CVE-2024-7978 Overview
CVE-2024-7978 is an insufficient policy enforcement vulnerability in the Data Transfer component of Google Chrome. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 128.0.6613.84. A remote attacker who convinces a user to perform specific UI gestures can leak cross-origin data through a crafted HTML page. Google classified the Chromium security severity as Medium. The weakness is tracked under [CWE-346: Origin Validation Error].
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows an attacker-controlled page to obtain data from other origins, undermining the browser's Same-Origin Policy and exposing user information handled through clipboard or drag-and-drop operations.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome versions prior to 128.0.6613.84
- Chromium-based browsers incorporating the vulnerable Data Transfer implementation
- Desktop Chrome Stable channel builds released before August 21, 2024
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-08-21 - Google releases Chrome Stable channel update addressing the issue (Google Chrome Stable Update)
- 2024-08-21 - CVE-2024-7978 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-7978
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in Chrome's Data Transfer implementation, which handles clipboard and drag-and-drop operations across browsing contexts. Insufficient policy enforcement permits data intended for one origin to be accessed by another. An attacker hosts a crafted HTML page that triggers Data Transfer operations. When a user performs specific UI gestures on that page, cross-origin content becomes reachable to the attacker's context. See the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry for engineering context.
Root Cause
The root cause is inadequate origin validation within the Data Transfer pipeline. The browser fails to consistently enforce Same-Origin Policy checks when data crosses contexts through user-initiated transfer actions. This aligns with [CWE-346: Origin Validation Error], where a component acts on data without verifying the source's origin.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires network access and user interaction. The attacker must lure a victim to a malicious page and induce specific UI gestures such as drag-and-drop or paste operations. No authentication or elevated privileges are required. Successful exploitation exposes cross-origin data such as text or resources rendered by another domain, without granting integrity or availability impact.
No public proof-of-concept code or verified exploit examples are available for this vulnerability. The Chromium Issue Tracker Entry may provide additional technical detail once access restrictions are lifted.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-7978
Indicators of Compromise
- Browser telemetry showing outbound requests containing data fragments that match content from other open origins
- User reports of unexpected drag-and-drop or clipboard prompts on untrusted pages
- HTML pages hosting scripts that programmatically trigger dataTransfer events across frames
Detection Strategies
- Inventory Chrome installations and identify endpoints running versions below 128.0.6613.84
- Monitor web proxy and DNS logs for connections to newly registered domains hosting HTML content that abuses drag-and-drop or clipboard interfaces
- Review browser extension and enterprise policy telemetry for anomalous cross-origin data flows
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable Chrome enterprise reporting to centralize browser version and update status
- Correlate endpoint browsing history with threat intelligence feeds covering credential and data-leak campaigns
- Track user-reported phishing pages that request drag-and-drop actions or paste operations targeting authenticated sessions
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-7978
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome to version 128.0.6613.84 or later on all Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints
- Restart browsers after update deployment to ensure the patched build is active
- Verify Chromium-based browsers (Edge, Brave, Opera, Vivaldi) have absorbed the upstream fix through their respective vendor updates
Patch Information
Google addressed CVE-2024-7978 in the Chrome Stable channel release 128.0.6613.84 for desktop platforms. Deployment details are published in the Google Chrome Stable Update advisory. Enterprises using managed browser deployments should push the update through Chrome Browser Cloud Management or standard software distribution tooling.
Workarounds
- Enforce automatic Chrome updates through enterprise policy to close the exposure window
- Advise users to avoid performing drag-and-drop or paste actions on untrusted web pages until updates are applied
- Restrict browsing to trusted sites through web filtering while patch deployment is in progress
# Verify installed Chrome version on Windows endpoints
reg query "HKLM\Software\Google\Update\Clients\{8A69D345-D564-463c-AFF1-A69D9E530F96}" /v pv
# Verify installed Chrome version on macOS endpoints
defaults read /Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/Info CFBundleShortVersionString
# Verify installed Chrome version on Linux endpoints
google-chrome --version
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
