CVE-2024-1670 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 02/21/2024
Use after free in Mojo in Google Chrome prior to 122.0.6261.57 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1670 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the Mojo component of Google Chrome browser. This flaw exists in versions prior to 122.0.6261.57 and constitutes a high-severity issue according to Chromium security guidelines. The vulnerability arises from improper memory management practices within the Mojo framework, which is responsible for facilitating communication between different processes in the Chrome architecture. When a malicious actor crafts a specially designed HTML page, the vulnerability can be exploited to trigger heap corruption, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the browser environment.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from a classic memory safety issue where a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed. In the context of Chrome's Mojo implementation, this occurs when objects are deallocated from memory but references to those objects persist within the application's memory space. The Mojo component serves as a foundational element for Chrome's multi-process architecture, handling inter-process communication and object serialization. When the memory management logic fails to properly track object lifetimes, it creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the heap structure through carefully crafted input. This use-after-free condition allows for heap spraying techniques and memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute malicious code with the privileges of the browser process.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-1670 extends beyond simple browser compromise, as it represents a significant escalation vector within the attack chain. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability through web-based delivery mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently browse untrusted websites. The remote exploitation capability means that no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious page is required for successful exploitation. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and CWE-416 for use after free conditions, demonstrating how memory corruption flaws can be weaponized for privilege escalation and persistent access. The vulnerability affects Chrome's security model by potentially undermining the sandboxing mechanisms that isolate different browser components from each other and from the underlying operating system.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-1670 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates, as Google has released patches addressing this specific memory management flaw. Organizations should prioritize updating Chrome installations to version 122.0.6261.57 or later to eliminate the risk. Additionally, implementing network-level protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls can provide defense-in-depth measures. Browser hardening techniques including disabling unnecessary features, implementing strict content security policies, and using enhanced sandboxing configurations can reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and continuous monitoring of browser security patches, as it demonstrates how even foundational components like Mojo can contain critical memory safety issues that require immediate attention to prevent exploitation. Organizations should also consider implementing threat detection mechanisms that can identify suspicious memory access patterns and anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.