CVE-2024-5158 - Type Confusion Vulnerability in V8 Engine of Google Chrome Allows Remote Attackers to Perform Arbitrary Read/Write

A recent vulnerability has been discovered in Google Chrome, dubbed as CVE-2024-5158, which poses a serious security threat to millions of users globally. The problem lies within the V8 JavaScript engine, a crucial component of the popular web browser. Specifically, the vulnerability allows a remote attacker to potentially perform arbitrary read/write operations via a crafted HTML page. Google Chrome versions prior to 125..6422.76 are susceptible to this critical security flaw.

This blog post delves into the technical details of CVE-2024-5158, providing an insight into the exploit and how it can be mitigated. We will also share a code snippet to showcase the issue, alongside links to original references for more information.

Vulnerability Details

The heart of the issue lies in a type confusion error present in the V8 engine of Google Chrome. Type confusion occurs when the application doesn't validate or incorrectly handles user input, which might lead to the manipulation of data types. Attackers can take advantage of this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code, modify crucial data, or execute other nefarious operations on the affected system.

In the case of CVE-2024-5158, the type confusion error resides in the way V8 handles specific JavaScript objects during the Just-In-Time (JIT) compilation process. The JIT is an essential mechanism within the V8 engine to improve performance. It compiles JavaScript code into machine code right before executing it, making web applications run faster.

Exploit Overview

By exploiting this vulnerability, an attacker can craft a malicious HTML page containing specific JavaScript code designed to trigger type confusion. When the vulnerable browser attempts to compile the JavaScript, the vulnerability would enable the attacker to access the system memory with arbitrary read/write operations. This could lead to several devastating consequences, including:

Consider the following code snippet showcasing the type confusion vulnerability in the V8 engine

function triggerTypeConfusion() {
 // Insert malicious JavaScript code here
}
 
var byteArray = new Uint8Array(100);
 
// Modify the JavaScript array, bypassing type checks
byteArray.__defineGetter__(42, triggerTypeConfusion);
 
function exploit() {
 byteArray[42] = ; // Triggers the type confusion vulnerability
}
 
exploit(); // Execute the exploit

Here, the triggerTypeConfusion function will contain the malicious JavaScript designed to target the vulnerable V8 engine. When the exploit is executed, the code will manipulate the byteArray and cause the type confusion error to occur, allowing for arbitrary read/write operations by the attacker.

Mitigation

Users of Google Chrome should immediately update their browser to version 125..6422.76 or later. This version includes a security patch addressing the CVE-2024-5158 vulnerability. To maintain a robust security posture, it is essential to stay vigilant and regularly apply updates and patches provided by software vendors, such as Google Chrome.

Original References

To explore additional details on the CVE-2024-5158 vulnerability, please refer to the following resources:

1. Chromium Security Advisory
2. V8 Runtime JIT Compiler
3. Google Chrome Security Support

Conclusion

CVE-2024-5158 is a significant security menace that poses a considerable risk to Google Chrome users. Understanding the vulnerability and its scope is imperative to safeguard the users from potential harm. Updating the browser and applying relevant patches is the primary step towards mitigating the risks. In the long run, continued vigilance and regular updates remain the key to maintaining a strong security posture in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

Timeline

Published on: 05/22/2024 16:15:10 UTC
Last modified on: 07/03/2024 02:08:35 UTC