CVE-2024-1673 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 02/21/2024
Use after free in Accessibility in Google Chrome prior to 122.0.6261.57 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially exploit heap corruption via specific UI gestures. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in Google Chrome's accessibility subsystem that could be exploited by remote attackers who have already compromised the renderer process. The flaw exists within the accessibility component that handles user interface interactions and is classified as a medium severity issue by Chromium security standards. The vulnerability manifests when specific UI gestures are performed, creating conditions where freed memory locations are accessed, potentially leading to heap corruption. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category for use-after-free errors, which are particularly dangerous because they can result in arbitrary code execution when exploited properly. The accessibility subsystem in Chrome is designed to assist users with disabilities by providing enhanced interface interactions, but this functionality becomes a potential attack vector when memory management errors occur.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to first compromise the renderer process, which is a significant initial hurdle but not insurmountable given the complexity of modern web applications. Once inside the renderer process, the attacker can manipulate specific UI gestures that trigger the use-after-free condition in the accessibility component. The heap corruption that results from this flaw can potentially allow for privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution within the context of the compromised browser process. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the accessibility framework, which typically runs with elevated privileges and has direct access to system resources. The exploitation chain leverages the fact that accessibility components often maintain persistent state and handle complex interaction patterns that may not be properly validated during memory deallocation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser compromise as it represents a potential pathway for more sophisticated attacks that could escalate to full system compromise. When an attacker successfully exploits this use-after-free condition, they can potentially execute malicious code with the privileges of the browser process, which may include access to user data, cookies, and other sensitive information. The accessibility subsystem's role in providing enhanced interface capabilities means that the attack surface is broader than typical browser components, as it handles various input methods and user interaction patterns. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of memory safety in browser components that are designed for continuous operation and user interaction, as these components often maintain complex state information that can become corrupted during normal operation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to Chrome version 122.0.6261.57 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the use-after-free condition in the accessibility subsystem. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all browser installations are updated promptly, as this vulnerability can be exploited remotely without user interaction once the renderer process is compromised. Additional protective measures include implementing strict process isolation, using sandboxing technologies, and monitoring for unusual accessibility component behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of applying security patches quickly, as it represents a medium severity issue that could be weaponized by attackers who have already gained initial access to the target system. Security teams should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and maintain awareness of the ATT&CK framework categories related to privilege escalation and code execution through browser-based attacks.