CVE-2021-37962 is classified as a high-severity vulnerability affecting Google Chrome versions prior to 94.0.4606.54. This vulnerability allows attackers to exploit a use after free condition in the Performance Manager component. If successfully exploited, an attacker who has compromised the renderer process can potentially cause heap corruption via a crafted HTML page, leading to unauthorized access or control over the affected system.
The severity of this vulnerability is underscored by its CVSS score of 8.8, indicating a high risk to organizations. Attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, which could severely compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of affected systems. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately to mitigate the risks associated with this vulnerability.
As of the latest updates, there are no known public exploits or proof-of-concept (PoC) available for this vulnerability. However, the potential impact remains significant, warranting immediate attention from security teams.
Organizations utilizing Google Chrome should ensure they are running the latest version to protect against this and other vulnerabilities. Regular updates and patch management are essential in maintaining security posture in the face of evolving threats.
Vulnerability Details
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-37962 is specifically a use after free vulnerability present in the Performance Manager component of Google Chrome. Official descriptions highlight that the vulnerability enables potential heap corruption through crafted HTML pages. The CVSS score of 8.8 highlights its high severity, as this score reflects significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The affected versions include Google Chrome versions prior to 94.0.4606.54. The flaw resides in the way Chrome handles memory management, leading to the possibility of exploitation when users visit specially crafted web pages.
The vulnerability was published on October 8, 2021. It has been assigned a CWE classification of CWE-416, which refers to use after free vulnerabilities, a common and serious issue in memory management.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-37962 lies in improper memory management within the Performance Manager of Google Chrome. A use after free condition occurs when a program continues to access memory after it has been freed, leading to unpredictable behavior. This vulnerability is exploitable via a network attack vector, meaning an attacker can exploit it remotely without needing direct access to the vulnerable system.
The attack complexity is low, requiring no special privileges for the attacker. However, user interaction is required as the attack must be initiated through the victim's browser visiting the malicious page. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is rated as high, indicating that successful exploitation could result in significant damage to the affected systems.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The real-world risk associated with CVE-2021-37962 is considerable, particularly for organizations that rely on Google Chrome for web access. An attacker leveraging this vulnerability could gain unauthorized access to sensitive data or execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to data breaches or system compromise. The blast radius of such an exploit can affect not only individual users but entire organizations if sensitive data is accessed or if system control is established.
Given the CVSS score of 8.8, organizations should assess their security measures and prioritize remediation actions. The urgency for action is high, and organizations should implement the necessary patches to prevent potential exploitation. The existence of this vulnerability underscores the importance of proactive vulnerability management and timely updates to software components.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of Google Chrome are all versions prior to 94.0.4606.54. Additionally, other affected components include Debian Linux version 10.0 and 11.0, as well as Fedora versions 33 and 35. Organizations using these systems should ensure they have applied the latest patches to mitigate risks.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should prioritize patching Google Chrome to version 94.0.4606.54 or later. If immediate patching is not feasible, consider implementing workarounds such as disabling JavaScript or blocking access to potentially harmful websites until an update can be applied. Regular security hygiene practices, including configuration hardening and network controls, should also be enforced.
Continuous security testing can be valuable to identify similar vulnerabilities in your environment.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring for unusual behavior in web applications and logs can help detect exploitation attempts. Look for indicators such as sudden spikes in memory usage, unexpected crashes of the browser, or alerts from security appliances that detect abnormal traffic patterns related to Chrome.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-37962 highlights ongoing challenges with memory management vulnerabilities in browsers and the potential for serious exploits. This incident underscores the importance of rigorous testing and patching cycles in software development, particularly for widely used applications like web browsers. Security teams should learn from this vulnerability to enhance their defensive strategies.
Penetration testing methodology should be regularly reviewed and updated to ensure comprehensive coverage against such vulnerabilities.
A robust vulnerability management program is crucial for identifying and mitigating risks associated with vulnerabilities like CVE-2021-37962.
Best practices in security testing should be adopted to ensure comprehensive protection against a wide range of vulnerabilities.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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