CVE-2021-38002 is a critical vulnerability affecting Google Chrome versions prior to 95.0.4638.69. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to potentially perform a sandbox escape through a crafted HTML page, which poses a significant risk to users and organizations. The CVSS score of 9.6 indicates that this vulnerability is critical in severity, underscoring the urgency for organizations to apply patches without delay.
The risk to organizations includes unauthorized access to sensitive data, manipulation of application behavior, and potential control over affected systems. Given the nature of this vulnerability, which requires user interaction, attackers may exploit it through phishing campaigns or by luring users to malicious websites. As this vulnerability has been publicly disclosed, it is imperative that organizations prioritize patching immediately.
As of now, there is no known public exploit for this vulnerability, and it has not been included in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, the critical nature of the CVSS score suggests that organizations should not assume they are safe from potential exploitation and should take immediate action.
Organizations should assess their current versions of Google Chrome and ensure they are updated to the latest release to mitigate any risk associated with this vulnerability. The urgency in addressing this vulnerability cannot be overstated.
Vulnerability Details
The CVE-2021-38002 vulnerability is classified as a use-after-free vulnerability in Web Transport within Google Chrome. This flaw allows attackers to exploit the vulnerability to escape the browser's sandbox, an essential security mechanism that isolates processes for greater security. The CVSS version 3.1 score of 9.6 indicates a critical severity level, with high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
The affected versions include all versions of Google Chrome prior to 95.0.4638.69. The vulnerability was published on November 23, 2021. It is categorized under CWE-416, which pertains to use-after-free vulnerabilities.
Technical Analysis
The root cause of CVE-2021-38002 stems from improper handling of memory that has already been freed. The attack vector is network-based, allowing an attacker to exploit the vulnerability over the internet. The attack complexity is low, meaning that the exploitation of this vulnerability does not require a high level of skill. Importantly, no privileges are required for exploitation, but user interaction is necessary, as the attack typically involves convincing a user to visit a malicious webpage.
The impacts of this vulnerability are severe, as it can lead to high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts. If successfully exploited, an attacker could gain unauthorized access to sensitive information, manipulate data, or disrupt services.
Risk & Impact Analysis
The risk associated with CVE-2021-38002 is considerable, particularly for organizations relying on Google Chrome for web access. The potential for sandbox escape means that attackers could manipulate web applications, potentially leading to data breaches, service disruptions, and loss of trust from users and stakeholders. The blast radius can be extensive, affecting any organization that utilizes the vulnerable versions of Chrome.
Organizations must assess their risk profile, particularly in environments where sensitive data is processed or stored. The criticality of this vulnerability, combined with its public disclosure, necessitates immediate action to remediate and secure affected systems.
Given the CVSS score and the implications of exploitation, organizations should prioritize addressing this vulnerability in their patch management cycles. Immediate patching is essential to mitigate risks associated with this critical vulnerability.
Exploitation Status
Signal | Status |
|---|---|
Known Exploit | No |
Public PoC | No |
Actively Exploited | No |
Ransomware Use | No |
Affected Versions
The affected versions of Google Chrome include all versions prior to 95.0.4638.69. Additionally, the vulnerability impacts Fedora 34 and Debian Linux versions 10.0 and 11.0. Organizations should ensure that they are running the latest versions of these products to mitigate the risk.
Mitigation & Remediation
Organizations should patch Google Chrome to version 95.0.4638.69 or later immediately. If patching is not possible, consider implementing the following workarounds:
1. Disable JavaScript in the browser settings while browsing untrusted websites.
2. Use network controls to limit access to untrusted or suspicious URLs.
3. Monitor user behavior for any signs of exploitation attempts.
For further guidance on security measures, organizations can refer to our application security assessment resources.
Detection Guidance
Organizations should monitor the following indicators to detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability:
1. Logs for abnormal behavior in web applications using Google Chrome.
2. User reports of unexpected behavior when visiting certain websites.
AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight
The long-term significance of CVE-2021-38002 lies in its demonstration of the vulnerabilities present in modern browsers. As web technologies evolve, the complexity of potential attack vectors increases. Organizations should focus on adopting a proactive security posture that includes continuous vulnerability assessments and proactive patch management.
This vulnerability emphasizes the necessity of regular updates and security training for end users to mitigate risks associated with social engineering attacks that could exploit such vulnerabilities.
For further reading on vulnerability management, organizations can explore our resource on vulnerability management programs and how to enhance your security posture.
Additionally, organizations are encouraged to review our insights on penetration testing methodology to better understand how to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Finally, organizations should stay informed about emerging threats and trends in cybersecurity by reviewing our ongoing research and publications.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
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