CVE-2024-2176 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 03/06/2024
Use after free in FedCM 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 • 11/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-2176 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the Federated Credentials Management (FedCM) component of Google Chrome. This issue affects versions prior to 122.0.6261.111 and demonstrates a severe memory safety concern that could enable remote code execution through malicious web content. The FedCM API is designed to facilitate secure credential management for web applications, allowing users to authenticate using their existing accounts from identity providers while maintaining privacy through federation protocols. The vulnerability arises from improper memory management during the handling of credential objects, creating conditions where freed memory regions might be accessed after deallocation.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free vulnerability occurs within the Chrome browser's rendering engine when processing FedCM-related JavaScript APIs. When a web page constructs or manipulates credential objects through the FedCM interface, the underlying memory allocation and deallocation processes contain a race condition or improper reference tracking mechanism. This flaw allows an attacker to craft a malicious HTML page that triggers the allocation of credential objects, followed by their premature deallocation, while simultaneously maintaining references to the freed memory locations. The Chromium security severity rating of High reflects the potential for arbitrary code execution, as the attacker can manipulate the heap layout to inject and execute malicious code in the context of the browser process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser compromise, as it represents a sophisticated attack vector that could be leveraged for advanced persistent threats. Attackers could potentially exploit this vulnerability to gain elevated privileges on affected systems, particularly when users visit compromised websites or click on malicious links. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website is required, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios. The heap corruption that results from this flaw could lead to unpredictable behavior including crashes, data corruption, or complete system compromise depending on the execution context and memory layout.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-2176 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates, with users urged to upgrade to Chrome version 122.0.6261.111 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly, particularly in enterprise environments where browser security is critical. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls, implementing strict content security policies, and utilizing browser hardening techniques such as sandboxing and privilege separation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free errors, and may be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059 for remote code execution through web-based attacks. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and implement network-level detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts.