Analysis Summary

Google has disclosed that a security vulnerability addressed in the Chrome browser's security update that was released last week is being actively exploited in the wild. The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-7965, is characterized as an improper implementation error in the WebAssembly and JavaScript engines of version 8.

Before 128.0.6613.84, Google Chrome's improper V8 implementation would have given rise to a remote attacker's ability to use a manipulated HTML page to take advantage of heap corruption. No more information has been made public regarding the type of attacks taking advantage of the vulnerability or who the potential threat actors are. Nonetheless, Google admitted that it is aware of a CVE-2024-7965 exploit.

The company added that reports of CVE-2024-7965's wild exploitation surfaced following this update. Nevertheless, it's unclear at this time whether the vulnerability was used as a weaponized zero-day before it was made public last week. Since the beginning of 2024, Google has fixed nine zero-days in Chrome, including three that were shown during Pwn2Own 2024:

• CVE-2024-0519
• CVE-2024-2886
• CVE-2024-2887
• CVE-2024-3159
• CVE-2024-4671
• CVE-2024-4761
• CVE-2024-4947
• CVE-2024-5274
• CVE-2024-7971

To reduce potential dangers, users are strongly advised to update to Chrome version 128.0.6613.84/.85 for Windows and macOS and version 128.0.6613.84 for Linux.

Impact

• Unauthorized Access
• Security Bypass

Indicators of Compromise

CVE

• CVE-2024-7965

Affected Vendors

Remediation

• Upgrade to the latest version of Google Chrome, available from the Google Chrome Releases Website.
• Organizations must test their assets for the vulnerability mentioned above and apply the available security patch or mitigation steps as soon as possible.
• Implement multi-factor authentication to add an extra layer of security to login processes.
• Regularly monitor network activity for any unusual behavior, as this may indicate that a cyberattack is underway.
• Organizations must stay vigilant and follow best practices for cybersecurity to protect their systems and data from potential threats. This includes regularly updating software and implementing strong access controls and monitoring tools.
• Develop a comprehensive incident response plan to respond effectively in case of a security breach or data leakage.
• Maintain regular backups of critical data and systems to ensure data recovery in case of a security incident.
• Adhere to security best practices, including the principle of least privilege, and ensure that users and applications have only the necessary permissions.
• Establish a robust patch management process to ensure that security patches are evaluated, tested, and applied promptly.
• Conduct security audits and assessments to evaluate the overall security posture of your systems and networks.
• Implement network segmentation to contain and isolate potential threats to limit their impact on critical systems.