CVE-2020-6379 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use after free in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 79.0.3945.130 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/10/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-6379 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the V8 JavaScript engine that powers Google Chrome. This flaw exists in the memory management subsystem where the engine fails to properly handle object references after their memory has been deallocated, creating a scenario where malicious code can exploit the dangling pointer to manipulate heap memory structures. The vulnerability specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 79.0.3945.130, making it a significant concern for users running older browser versions. The issue manifests when processing crafted HTML content that triggers the problematic code path within V8's garbage collection and memory management routines, allowing attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser user.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting malicious HTML content that forces V8 to create and subsequently free memory objects while maintaining references to them. When the JavaScript engine attempts to access these freed objects, it can lead to heap corruption that attackers can manipulate to redirect execution flow. This use-after-free condition falls under the CWE-416 category of "Use After Free" which is a well-documented vulnerability pattern that has been consistently exploited in various software applications. The attack vector requires remote code execution through a web page, making it particularly dangerous as users can be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites or viewing compromised content in email messages or web applications.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-6379 extends beyond simple browser exploitation as it represents a sophisticated attack primitive that can be leveraged for privilege escalation and persistent access. Attackers can utilize this vulnerability to bypass modern security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework as a code injection technique demonstrates its capability to enable attackers to execute malicious payloads within the browser context. Organizations and individuals running affected Chrome versions face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited through various attack surfaces including web browsing, email attachments, and compromised websites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2020-6379 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 79.0.3945.130 and later, which contain the necessary patches to address the memory management flaw. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management policies to ensure all users are protected against this and similar vulnerabilities. Additional protective measures include enabling Chrome's built-in security features such as sandboxing, which provides an additional layer of isolation between the browser process and the underlying operating system. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help detect and block malicious HTML content that may exploit this vulnerability. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual browser behavior or memory access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where users may be exposed to untrusted web content. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping browser software updated and maintaining robust security hygiene practices across all computing environments.