CVE-2024-6103 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 06/20/2024
Use after free in Dawn in Google Chrome prior to 126.0.6478.114 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 • 03/23/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2024-6103 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the Dawn graphics library component of Google Chrome, affecting versions prior to 126.0.6478.114. This flaw resides in the graphics processing subsystem that handles WebGL and WebGPU APIs, which are essential for rendering complex graphics in web applications. The Dawn library serves as a cross-platform graphics abstraction layer that enables Chrome to interface with underlying graphics APIs such as Direct3D, OpenGL, and Vulkan. When a use-after-free vulnerability exists in this component, it creates a scenario where memory that has been deallocated is still being referenced or accessed by subsequent operations, leading to potential memory corruption and arbitrary code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious actor crafts a specific HTML page that triggers the problematic code path within Dawn. The vulnerability typically manifests when WebGL or WebGPU contexts are created and manipulated in ways that cause objects to be freed from memory while still being referenced by active JavaScript or graphics operations. This creates a window where an attacker can manipulate the freed memory to inject malicious code or corrupt the heap structure, potentially allowing remote code execution. The Chromium security severity classification of High indicates the significant risk posed by this vulnerability, as it can be exploited remotely through web pages without requiring user interaction beyond visiting the malicious site.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-6103 extends beyond simple browser exploitation, as it represents a fundamental memory safety issue that could enable attackers to bypass modern security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and control flow integrity. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software systems, and demonstrates how graphics libraries can become attack vectors in modern browser architectures. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WebGL and WebGPU are increasingly used in web applications, making this vulnerability potentially exploitable across a wide range of legitimate web content. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process, potentially leading to full system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-6103 primarily focus on immediate remediation through browser updates to versions 126.0.6478.114 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the use-after-free condition in the Dawn library. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without user interaction. Additional defensive measures include deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious HTML content, implementing strict content security policies to limit WebGL and WebGPU usage, and utilizing browser sandboxing features to limit potential damage from successful exploits. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and remote code execution, with the potential to be used as a stepping stone for further attacks within a compromised system. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for unusual graphics API calls or memory allocation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as the heap corruption associated with use-after-free vulnerabilities often manifests through detectable system behaviors before full exploitation occurs.