CVE-2021-37977 is classified as a high-severity vulnerability affecting Google Chrome versions prior to 94.0.4606.81. This vulnerability allows use after free in Garbage Collection, enabling potential exploitation of heap corruption through crafted HTML pages. The CVSS score of 8.8 signifies a serious threat, necessitating urgent action from affected organizations.
Risk to organizations includes unauthorized access and data manipulation, primarily due to the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact scores. Exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to significant security breaches, making it imperative for organizations to address it immediately.
The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on November 2, 2021, following its identification. Given the nature of the attack vector, which is network-based and requires user interaction, there remains a risk of exploitation if users are not cautious about the pages they visit. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.
Existing threat intelligence indicates that there are no public exploits available for this vulnerability, and it is not currently included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, organizations should remain vigilant and ensure they implement the necessary updates without delay.
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows use after free in Garbage Collection in Google Chrome prior to 94.0.4606.81. The CVSS score of 8.8 highlights its high severity, indicating that it can result in significant impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Affected products include Google Chrome and Debian Linux versions 10.0 and 11.0 as well as Fedora 33. The vulnerability was published in the Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures database and is classified under CWE-416 due to its nature.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-37977 lies within the Garbage Collection process in Google Chrome, where improper handling of memory can lead to use after free situations. The attack vector is network-based, requiring low complexity to exploit, and does not necessitate elevated privileges from the attacker. User interaction is required, as users must visit a specially crafted page to trigger the vulnerability.
The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability significantly, as an attacker could potentially manipulate or access sensitive information stored in the browser's memory.
Risk & Impact Analysis
Real-world risks associated with this vulnerability are substantial, given its potential to lead to unauthorized access and data manipulation. The blast radius is significant, especially for organizations that heavily rely on web-based applications. The urgency for remediation is underscored by the CVSS score of 8.8, indicating a high likelihood of exploitation if left unpatched.
Organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to mitigate risks effectively. The longer this vulnerability remains unaddressed, the greater the potential for exploitation.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The following versions are affected by this vulnerability: Google Chrome versions prior to 94.0.4606.81, Fedora 33, and Debian Linux versions 10.0 and 11.0. Organizations should ensure that they are running the latest versions to mitigate this risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
To address this vulnerability, organizations should apply the latest security patches provided by Google for Chrome. Specifically, upgrading to version 94.0.4606.81 or higher is crucial. If patching is not immediately possible, consider implementing network controls to restrict access to potentially malicious sites.
For more insights on securing your applications, organizations should engage in penetration testing to identify and remediate vulnerabilities proactively.
Detection Guidance
Monitoring logs for unusual behavior or system changes can help detect potential exploitation attempts. Indicators may include unexpected browser crashes, abnormal memory usage, or access requests to unauthorized resources.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-37977 highlights the ongoing need for robust application security practices. As vulnerabilities evolve, so too must the strategies employed by security teams. This case emphasizes the importance of timely patching and proactive security assessments.
Security teams should leverage insights from this vulnerability to strengthen their defenses against future threats. For further information on penetration testing methodologies, organizations can refer to our comprehensive guide on penetration testing methodology and consider implementing continuous security practices to keep their defenses adaptive and resilient.
Additionally, organizations should keep abreast of emerging vulnerabilities and trends in the cybersecurity landscape to ensure their security posture remains robust against evolving threats.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
.webp)