CVE-2024-9961 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2024
Use after free in ParcelTracking in Google Chrome on iOS prior to 130.0.6723.58 allowed a remote attacker who convinced a user to engage in specific UI gestures to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2025
The vulnerability CVE-2024-9961 represents a use-after-free condition within the ParcelTracking component of Google Chrome on iOS platforms. This flaw exists in versions prior to 130.0.6723.58 and constitutes a medium severity issue according to Chromium security standards. The vulnerability arises from improper memory management within the browser's tracking functionality, creating potential for heap corruption when processing malicious web content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a remote attacker to convince a user to perform specific user interface gestures on a crafted HTML page. This type of attack vector falls under the category of user interaction-based exploits, where social engineering plays a critical role in successful compromise. The use-after-free condition occurs when memory previously allocated to an object is accessed after it has been freed, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate memory contents or execute arbitrary code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it could enable attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution within the browser context. This represents a significant security risk for iOS users who may inadvertently interact with malicious web content. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that it leverages the browser's tracking capabilities, which are frequently accessed during normal web browsing activities. The vulnerability's medium severity classification indicates that while it may not provide complete system compromise, it still represents a meaningful threat to user security and privacy.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software systems. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign browser features can become attack vectors when proper memory management practices are not implemented. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including initial access through malicious content delivery and privilege escalation via code execution within the browser environment. The requirement for specific UI gestures suggests that this attack may be more difficult to automate, but still represents a viable threat to user security.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to Google Chrome version 130.0.6723.58 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory management issues in the ParcelTracking component. System administrators and security professionals should prioritize this update, particularly for environments where users may be exposed to untrusted web content. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web filtering solutions and user education programs to reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering attacks that require specific user interactions. The patch addresses the underlying memory management flaw by ensuring proper object lifecycle management and preventing access to freed memory regions.