Appsecure logo

CVE-2024-4331: High Vulnerability in Google Chrome

A high-severity vulnerability in Google Chrome could allow remote attackers to exploit heap corruption via crafted HTML pages. Organizations are advised to patch immediately to mitigate the associated risks.

HIGHCVSS 8.8 · Published May 1, 2024

Not a customer? See how AppSecure simulates real world attacks to protect your infrastructure.

Speak to Experts

CVE-2024-4331 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Google Chrome prior to version 124.0.6367.118. This vulnerability allows for a use after free condition in the Picture In Picture feature, which could enable a remote attacker to exploit heap corruption through a specially crafted HTML page. The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 8.8, indicating a high level of severity that necessitates prompt action by organizations to safeguard against potential exploitation.

Risk to organizations includes potential unauthorized access, data corruption, and denial of service. Given the nature of this vulnerability, it is essential for security teams to prioritize remediation efforts. The vulnerability has been analyzed, and although no public exploits have been confirmed at this time, the available attack vector via crafted HTML makes it a critical concern for organizations relying on Google Chrome.

Organizations should prioritize patching immediately. The release notes and detailed information about the patch can be found through the official Chrome updates.

The urgency of addressing this vulnerability cannot be understated, as the potential for exploitation exists if systems remain unpatched. As always, maintaining up-to-date software is a critical aspect of defensive security practices.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability is classified as a use after free issue, which is associated with the Common Weakness Enumeration (CWE-416). The vulnerability has been assigned a CVSS score of 8.8, reflecting the high severity of its potential impact.

The affected product is Google Chrome, specifically versions prior to 124.0.6367.118, and the vulnerability was published on May 1, 2024. The attack vector is classified as NETWORK, with a low attack complexity and no required privileges for exploitation, though user interaction is necessary.

In terms of impact, the vulnerability can lead to high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, making it critical for organizations to address.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper memory management, specifically use after free, within the Picture In Picture feature of Google Chrome. The attack vector relies on the network, meaning attackers can exploit this vulnerability remotely without physical access to the victim's machine.

The attack complexity is low, which indicates that it does not require sophisticated techniques to exploit. The privileges required for exploitation are none, but user interaction is necessary, meaning that a user must visit a malicious web page.

In terms of impacts, if exploited successfully, the vulnerability could lead to significant effects on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, thereby posing a serious risk to organizations that utilize this software.

Risk & Impact Analysis

Real-world deployment risk is notable for organizations using Google Chrome, as this vulnerability can provide attackers with the ability to execute arbitrary code, leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data or system resources. The potential blast radius is substantial, especially for organizations that have not implemented adequate security controls to mitigate such vulnerabilities.

The urgency assessment based on the CVSS score indicates that organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle. The high severity suggests that immediate action is necessary to protect against the potential exploitation of this vulnerability.

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

No

Public PoC

No

Actively Exploited

No

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

The vulnerability affects all versions of Google Chrome prior to 124.0.6367.118. Additionally, Fedora operating systems versions 38, 39, and 40 are also affected. Organizations using these versions should ensure timely updates to mitigate potential risks.

Mitigation & Remediation

Organizations should update to the latest version of Google Chrome to mitigate this vulnerability. Specific upgrade versions to address this issue should be verified through the official release notes. In cases where immediate patching is not feasible, organizations should consider implementing workarounds such as disabling the Picture In Picture feature until a patch can be applied.

Network controls should also be reinforced to prevent users from accessing potentially harmful web pages. Organizations are encouraged to engage in continuous security testing to identify potential vulnerabilities and ensure compliance with security best practices.

Continuous security testing is essential to validate the effectiveness of implemented remediation measures.

Detection Guidance

Organizations should monitor logs for unusual access patterns, particularly those involving the Picture In Picture feature. Behavioral anomalies could indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, network signatures should be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts.

System changes should also be tracked to identify unauthorized modifications that may signify an attempted exploit.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

The long-term significance of CVE-2024-4331 lies in its demonstration of the risks associated with memory management vulnerabilities in widely used software. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of rigorous testing and timely patching practices within development cycles.

Security teams should analyze this incident to identify patterns and trends in vulnerability management, especially within the context of web application security. The lessons learned from this vulnerability emphasize the necessity for organizations to adopt a proactive security posture.

In conclusion, organizations should consider regular engagement with security testing services to ensure their applications are secure against emerging threats. For more information on effective security practices, security teams can refer to resources like the penetration testing methodology guide.

Additionally, organizations should keep abreast of vulnerabilities like CVE-2024-4331 through continuous monitoring of security advisories and threat intelligence reports.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

Latest CVEs. Recently published vulnerabilities from the NVD database.

View all vulnerabilities
CVE IDSeverity
CVE-2025-65418HIGH
CVE-2025-65417MEDIUM
CVE-2025-65416MEDIUM
CVE-2025-65415MEDIUM
CVE-2025-61314HIGH

Protect Your Business with Hacker-Focused Approach.