CVE-2024-9121 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/25/2024
Inappropriate implementation in V8 in Google Chrome prior to 129.0.6668.70 allowed a remote attacker to potentially perform out of bounds memory access via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-9121 represents a critical memory safety issue within the V8 JavaScript engine that powers Google Chrome and Chromium-based browsers. This flaw exists in the engine's handling of memory operations and specifically affects versions prior to 129.0.6668.70, making it a significant concern for users running older browser versions. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper implementation within the V8 engine, which is responsible for executing JavaScript code in web browsers. The security severity classification as High by Chromium indicates the potential for serious exploitation scenarios that could compromise user systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves an out-of-bounds memory access condition that occurs when processing crafted HTML content. This type of flaw typically arises when the V8 engine fails to properly validate memory boundaries during JavaScript execution, allowing an attacker to manipulate memory locations beyond their intended scope. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through web-based attacks without requiring any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The attacker needs only to host a specially crafted HTML page that, when loaded in the vulnerable browser, will cause the V8 engine to access memory locations outside of allocated boundaries. This misimplementation creates opportunities for memory corruption that could be exploited to execute arbitrary code.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to end users and organizations that have not yet updated their Chrome browsers. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can compromise systems simply by convincing users to visit malicious websites, making this attack vector particularly effective in phishing campaigns and drive-by download scenarios. The out-of-bounds memory access could potentially lead to various security consequences including arbitrary code execution, information disclosure, or system compromise depending on the specific memory locations accessed. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no local privileges, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise and potentially affecting a wide user base.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2024-9121 centers on immediate browser updates to version 129.0.6668.70 or later, which contain patches addressing the memory access validation issues within the V8 engine. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems are updated promptly, as this vulnerability represents a high-severity threat that could be actively exploited in the wild. Network administrators should consider implementing additional security measures such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to provide defense-in-depth. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and may relate to ATT&CK techniques involving initial access through malicious websites and execution through memory corruption. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and maintain awareness of potential exploitation attempts targeting unpatched systems.