Overview
CVE-2024-9126 describes a use-after-free vulnerability affecting Google Chrome on iOS versions prior to 127.0.6533.88. This flaw could allow a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption. The vulnerability is triggered when a user is convinced to perform specific UI gestures, leading to memory corruption within the browser’s internals.
Technical Details
The vulnerability stems from a use-after-free condition within the “Internals” component of Google Chrome for iOS. “Use-after-free” bugs occur when a program attempts to access memory that has already been freed. This can lead to unpredictable behavior, including crashes, arbitrary code execution, and information disclosure. In this case, the attacker needs to entice the user into performing a specific series of UI gestures within the browser. These curated UI actions trigger the premature freeing of a memory region, and subsequent access to that memory leads to heap corruption.
CVSS Analysis
Currently, the CVSS score and severity are listed as N/A. This often indicates the score was not available at the time of reporting or requires further analysis by security experts. However, Chromium security severity is listed as Medium.
Possible Impact
A successful exploit of CVE-2024-9126 could have significant consequences. Heap corruption, as indicated in the vulnerability description, could potentially lead to:
- Arbitrary Code Execution: An attacker could potentially inject and execute malicious code on the user’s device.
- Information Disclosure: Sensitive information stored in memory could be exposed to the attacker.
- Denial of Service (DoS): The browser could crash, rendering it unusable.
Mitigation or Patch Steps
The primary mitigation for CVE-2024-9126 is to update Google Chrome on your iOS device to version 127.0.6533.88 or later. This update contains the necessary patch to address the use-after-free vulnerability. To update Chrome on iOS:
- Open the App Store app on your iOS device.
- Search for “Google Chrome”.
- If an update is available, tap the “Update” button.
It is highly recommended to enable automatic updates for Chrome to ensure you receive security patches promptly.
