CVE-2024-7977 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/22/2024
Insufficient data validation in Installer in Google Chrome on Windows prior to 128.0.6613.84 allowed a local attacker to perform privilege escalation via a malicious file. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7977 represents a critical weakness in the Windows installer component of Google Chrome that enables local privilege escalation through insufficient data validation mechanisms. This flaw exists in Chrome versions prior to 128.0.6613.84 and specifically targets the installation process on Windows operating systems. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input sanitization and validation within the installer's file handling routines, creating an exploitable condition that allows malicious actors to manipulate installation files and elevate their privileges from standard user to administrative level. The issue falls under the category of insufficient validation of data integrity, which is classified as CWE-20 in the Common Weakness Enumeration framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs during the Chrome installation process when the installer fails to properly validate the integrity and authenticity of files being processed. Attackers can craft malicious files that exploit the installer's trust in local file operations, allowing them to inject malicious code or manipulate existing installation components. The installer's failure to implement proper file signature verification, checksum validation, or access control checks creates a pathway for privilege escalation. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the legitimate installation process to gain elevated privileges, making it difficult to detect through standard security monitoring mechanisms.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risk to organizations running affected Chrome versions, as it enables local attackers to gain administrative privileges on Windows systems. The attack vector typically involves an attacker with low-privilege access to a system who can influence the installation process or replace legitimate installation files with malicious counterparts. Once exploited, the attacker can modify system files, install additional malware, or establish persistent access to the compromised system. This vulnerability aligns with the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation tactics, specifically targeting techniques that exploit software vulnerabilities to gain elevated system access. The medium severity classification reflects the specific conditions required for exploitation, which include local access and the ability to manipulate installation files.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of Chrome installations to version 128.0.6613.84 or later to remediate this vulnerability. System administrators should implement additional security controls such as file integrity monitoring, restricted file permissions, and regular vulnerability assessments to detect potential exploitation attempts. The installation process should be hardened through proper file validation, digital signature verification, and access control mechanisms. Network segmentation and privilege separation can help limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Security teams should monitor for unusual installation activities or file modifications that could indicate exploitation attempts, while also maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence on related attack patterns targeting similar installer vulnerabilities.