CVE-2024-8193: Google Chrome Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2024-8193 Overview

CVE-2024-8193 is a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in the Skia graphics library used by Google Chrome. The flaw affects all Chrome versions prior to 128.0.6613.113. A remote attacker who has already compromised the renderer process can exploit this issue by serving a crafted HTML page. Successful exploitation can lead to heap memory corruption and potential code execution outside the renderer sandbox boundary.

The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-122] (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and [CWE-787] (Out-of-Bounds Write). Google classified the Chromium security severity as High. Skia is the 2D graphics engine that renders text, geometries, and images across Chrome and Chromium-based browsers.

Critical Impact
A compromised renderer can trigger heap corruption in Skia through crafted HTML, enabling further exploitation and potential sandbox escape.

Affected Products

Google Chrome versions prior to 128.0.6613.113
Chromium-based browsers using the vulnerable Skia component
Desktop builds for Windows, macOS, and Linux

Discovery Timeline

2024-08-28 - CVE-2024-8193 published to NVD following the Chrome Stable Channel update for desktop
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-8193

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in Skia, the 2D graphics rendering library that handles drawing operations within the Chrome renderer process. A heap buffer overflow occurs when Skia processes specific graphics operations triggered by attacker-controlled HTML content. The overflow writes data beyond the allocated heap buffer, corrupting adjacent memory structures.

Exploitation requires the attacker to have already compromised the renderer process. This positions CVE-2024-8193 as a second-stage primitive rather than an initial entry point. Chained with a separate renderer compromise, it can support sandbox escape attempts or broader code execution in the browser process.

User interaction is required because the victim must load the crafted HTML page in Chrome. The attack vector is network-based and exploitation complexity is low once a renderer foothold exists.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper bounds checking during heap memory operations within Skia. When the library allocates a buffer for graphics data, an attacker-controlled input path causes writes that exceed the allocated size. This produces both heap-based buffer overflow ([CWE-122]) and out-of-bounds write ([CWE-787]) conditions.

Attack Vector

An attacker first compromises the Chrome renderer process through a separate vulnerability or malicious extension. The attacker then delivers a crafted HTML page containing graphics primitives that invoke the vulnerable Skia code path. The resulting heap corruption can overwrite function pointers, virtual table entries, or sandbox-relevant data structures to escalate execution.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. See the Chromium Issue Tracker Entry and the Google Chrome Stable Update for additional technical references.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-8193

Indicators of Compromise

Chrome renderer processes crashing with heap corruption signatures during page rendering
Unexpected child processes spawned from chrome.exe after browsing untrusted sites
Outbound network connections from Chrome to unfamiliar domains following a renderer crash
Browser versions reporting below 128.0.6613.113 in enterprise inventory scans

Detection Strategies

Inventory all Chrome installations and flag any version lower than 128.0.6613.113
Monitor Windows Error Reporting and crash telemetry for chrome.exe faults with access violation codes in Skia modules
Correlate renderer crashes with preceding navigation events to identify suspicious source URLs
Apply browser isolation or remote browser policies for high-risk user groups until patching is verified

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward endpoint browser process telemetry to a centralized analytics platform for crash pattern analysis
Track child process creation events from browser processes and alert on anomalous executables
Monitor egress traffic from endpoints immediately following browser crashes for signs of post-exploitation activity
Audit installed Chrome extensions because compromised extensions are a common path to renderer access

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-8193

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 128.0.6613.113 or later on all managed endpoints
Verify update deployment through enterprise management consoles or endpoint inventory tools
Restart Chrome on user workstations to ensure the patched binaries are loaded into memory
Review installed extensions and remove any that are unnecessary or untrusted

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the Chrome Stable channel update on August 28, 2024. Administrators should ensure Chrome auto-update is enabled or deploy version 128.0.6613.113 through their software distribution platform. Full details are available in the Google Chrome Stable Update advisory.

Workarounds

Enforce strict site isolation through Chrome enterprise policies to limit the impact of renderer compromise
Restrict browsing to trusted domains using web filtering or DNS-based controls until patching completes
Deploy browser hardening policies that disable unnecessary features such as legacy graphics acceleration where feasible
Use application allowlisting to prevent execution of unknown binaries spawned from browser processes

bash

# Verify installed Chrome version on Windows endpoints
reg query "HKLM\Software\Google\Update\Clients\{8A69D345-D564-463C-AFF1-A69D9E530F96}" /v pv

# Force Chrome update check on Linux
google-chrome --version
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade google-chrome-stable