CVE-2024-8639 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/11/2024
Use after free in Autofill in Google Chrome on Android prior to 128.0.6613.137 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 • 03/10/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in the Autofill functionality of Google Chrome for Android platforms. The flaw exists within the memory management system where freed memory blocks are still being accessed or referenced by subsequent operations. Such conditions typically arise when the application deallocates memory but continues to maintain pointers to that location, creating opportunities for malicious exploitation. The vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to Chrome 128.0.6613.137, indicating a targeted fix for this particular memory handling issue. The Chromium security severity classification of High underscores the potential for remote code execution through carefully crafted HTML content, making this a significant concern for mobile browser users.
The technical exploitation of this use-after-free vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of HTML page elements that interact with the Autofill component. When a user visits a maliciously crafted webpage, the browser's Autofill system processes form fields and input elements in a manner that triggers the freed memory access. This particular flaw demonstrates how web-based interfaces can be leveraged to corrupt heap memory structures, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Chrome process. The heap corruption aspect indicates that the attacker could manipulate memory layout to achieve code execution or information disclosure, with the potential for privilege escalation depending on the execution environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser compromise, as it represents a remote attack vector that requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage. This characteristic aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code. The vulnerability's classification as a heap corruption issue also relates to CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software systems. Mobile environments present additional risk factors due to the limited security controls and the potential for more severe consequences when exploited against mobile browser applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability center on immediate version updates to Chrome 128.0.6613.137 or later, which contain the necessary patches to prevent the memory management error. Organizations should implement automated update mechanisms to ensure rapid deployment of security fixes across mobile device fleets. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense by filtering suspicious HTML content, though these measures are not foolproof against sophisticated attacks. Security monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous browser behavior or memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments of mobile browser components and adherence to secure coding practices that prevent memory management errors in web rendering engines.