CVE-2024-2174 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2024
Inappropriate implementation in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 122.0.6261.111 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 • 04/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-2174 represents a critical heap corruption issue within the V8 JavaScript engine component of Google Chrome browsers. This flaw exists in versions prior to 122.0.6261.111 and demonstrates an inappropriate implementation that could be exploited by remote attackers through maliciously crafted HTML pages. The vulnerability falls under the Chromium security severity classification of High, indicating significant risk to user systems and data integrity. The V8 engine serves as the core JavaScript execution engine for Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could affect a vast number of users across different platforms and operating systems.
The technical nature of this heap corruption vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the V8 engine's handling of JavaScript objects and their associated memory allocations. When processing crafted HTML content, the engine fails to properly validate or sanitize memory operations, leading to potential buffer overflows or memory corruption patterns that can be leveraged by attackers. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when the engine does not adequately check bounds during memory allocation or deallocation processes, allowing malicious code to overwrite adjacent memory regions. The heap corruption aspect suggests that the vulnerability affects the dynamic memory allocation system where objects are stored during JavaScript execution, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-2174 extends beyond simple browser exploitation, as it represents a potential pathway for more sophisticated attacks within the browser environment. Remote attackers could craft HTML pages that, when loaded in affected Chrome versions, trigger the heap corruption condition and potentially execute malicious JavaScript code. This vulnerability could enable attackers to bypass security mechanisms such as sandboxing, as the heap corruption may allow them to manipulate the browser's execution environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that web browsers are frequently targeted by threat actors due to their privileged position in user environments and their access to sensitive data. The vulnerability could facilitate various attack vectors including data exfiltration, system compromise, or redirection to malicious content, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams and individual users alike.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-2174 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 122.0.6261.111 and later, which contain the necessary patches to address the heap corruption implementation flaw. Organizations should prioritize urgent deployment of these security updates across all affected systems, particularly in enterprise environments where browser-based attacks pose significant risks. Additionally, implementing network-level security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional defense-in-depth layers. Security teams should also consider monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns and implementing browser hardening configurations that limit the execution of potentially malicious JavaScript code. The vulnerability's classification as a heap corruption issue aligns with CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and may relate to ATT&CK techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation through browser exploitation. Organizations should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running outdated Chrome versions and ensure comprehensive patch management processes are in place to prevent similar vulnerabilities from compromising their security posture.