CVE-2024-5839 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 06/12/2024
Inappropriate Implementation in Memory Allocator in Google Chrome prior to 126.0.6478.54 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-5839 represents a critical heap corruption issue within the memory allocation subsystem of Google Chrome browsers. This flaw exists in versions prior to 126.0.6478.54 and stems from an inappropriate implementation in how the browser handles memory allocation operations. The vulnerability is categorized as a medium severity issue by Chromium security standards, yet its potential impact on system integrity and user security remains significant. Memory allocator flaws of this nature typically arise when the underlying memory management logic fails to properly validate or handle memory operations, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate heap structures through carefully crafted inputs.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a remote attacker leveraging a specially crafted HTML page to trigger the flawed memory allocation behavior. When Chrome processes such malicious content, the improper memory handling can lead to heap corruption, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause unexpected application behavior. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of memory safety issues and aligns with common CWE classifications related to improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation operations. The heap corruption aspect suggests that the vulnerability may enable attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to privilege escalation or information disclosure scenarios.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for users who browse the internet without proper security measures. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can compromise systems simply by convincing victims to visit malicious websites or click on compromised links. The medium severity rating does not diminish the potential impact, as heap corruption vulnerabilities often provide attackers with pathways to more serious exploits. The vulnerability directly impacts Chrome's memory management integrity and can potentially affect the browser's sandboxing mechanisms, which are critical for isolating potentially malicious content from the underlying operating system.
Effective mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-5839 primarily involve updating to Chrome version 126.0.6478.54 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the heap corruption issue. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of this security update across all affected systems, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted web content. Additional protective measures include implementing robust web filtering solutions, enabling Chrome's built-in security features such as sandboxing and site isolation, and maintaining comprehensive monitoring for suspicious network activity. Security teams should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify potential exploitation attempts targeting memory corruption vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the updated browser version to ensure compatibility with existing applications and workflows while maintaining the enhanced security posture provided by the patched memory allocation implementation.