CVE-2021-30514 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Use after free in Autofill in Google Chrome prior to 90.0.4430.212 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.

Understanding CVE-2021-30514

This CVE details a use after free vulnerability in Google Chrome that could be exploited by a remote attacker to achieve heap corruption.

What is CVE-2021-30514?

CVE-2021-30514 is a vulnerability in Google Chrome that allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption through a specially crafted HTML page.

The Impact of CVE-2021-30514

If successfully exploited, this vulnerability could lead to heap corruption, which may result in arbitrary code execution or system crashes, posing a serious threat to the security of affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-30514

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to a use after free issue in Autofill functionality in Google Chrome versions prior to 90.0.4430.212. This flaw could be leveraged by an attacker who has already compromised the renderer process.

Affected Systems and Versions

Google Chrome versions less than 90.0.4430.212 are affected by this vulnerability. Users of such versions are advised to update immediately to protect their systems.

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to lure a user into visiting a malicious website or opening a malicious HTML file, triggering the use after free issue in the Autofill component.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting against CVE-2021-30514 involves taking immediate steps and adopting long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users should update Google Chrome to version 90.0.4430.212 or later to mitigate the vulnerability. Avoid visiting unknown or suspicious websites to lower the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

It is recommended to keep software up to date, use reputable security tools, and educate users about common security threats to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Google has released a patch to address this vulnerability. Users are strongly advised to apply the latest updates to ensure their systems are secure.