CVE-2024-9959 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2024
Use after free in DevTools in Google Chrome prior to 130.0.6723.58 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted Chrome Extension. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition within the DevTools component of Google Chrome, specifically affecting versions prior to 130.0.6723.58. The flaw occurs when a renderer process is compromised and an attacker can manipulate the heap memory through a maliciously crafted Chrome extension. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use-after-free errors where memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating potential exploitation opportunities for heap corruption attacks. The vulnerability is classified as Medium severity by Chromium security standards, though the potential impact for a compromised system remains significant.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the DevTools debugging interface within Chrome's architecture where memory management becomes inconsistent when handling certain extension interactions. When a renderer process is already compromised, an attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code through heap corruption techniques. The exploitation requires the attacker to first gain control of the renderer process, which is typically achieved through other initial compromise vectors such as drive-by downloads or phishing attacks. Once the renderer is compromised, the attacker can manipulate the extension loading mechanism to trigger the use-after-free condition, allowing for memory corruption that can be leveraged to escalate privileges or execute malicious code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation as it provides a pathway for attackers to maintain persistent access within compromised systems. The DevTools component is frequently used for legitimate debugging purposes, making this attack vector particularly insidious as it can be triggered through seemingly normal extension usage patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates how debugging interfaces, while essential for legitimate development work, can become attack surfaces when not properly secured against malicious input. Attackers can potentially chain this vulnerability with other exploits to achieve full system compromise, making it a valuable target for advanced persistent threat actors who seek to establish long-term access to compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate remediation through Chrome updates to version 130.0.6723.58 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the heap corruption issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple systems may be at risk. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing runtime protections such as address space layout randomization and heap hardening techniques to make exploitation more difficult even if the vulnerability is not immediately patched. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of extension security practices, as attackers can leverage malicious extensions to trigger the flaw. Organizations should implement strict extension vetting procedures and consider using Chrome's built-in security features to limit extension permissions and monitor for suspicious activity. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter, as exploitation can lead to execution of malicious code through compromised debugging interfaces. The use-after-free condition creates a memory corruption vulnerability that can be exploited for privilege escalation, making it a critical concern for security professionals managing Chrome-based environments.