CVE-2023-6702 is a type confusion vulnerability identified in the V8 JavaScript engine component of Google Chrome prior to version 120.0.6099.109. Type confusion occurs when a program mistakenly treats a piece of memory as a different type than it actually is, leading to undefined behavior. In this case, the vulnerability allows a remote attacker to craft a malicious HTML page that triggers heap corruption within the V8 engine. Heap corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution, enabling attackers to run malicious code in the context of the browser process. The vulnerability does not require any privileges or authentication but does require user interaction, such as visiting a malicious or compromised website. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, and user interaction needed. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-843 (Type Confusion). Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the nature of the flaw and its presence in a widely used browser make it a critical concern. Google has released a patched version (120.0.6099.109) to address this issue, but organizations running older versions remain vulnerable. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests this is a recently disclosed vulnerability, but the potential for exploitation remains high due to the widespread use of Chrome and the criticality of the flaw.

The vulnerability poses a significant risk to European organizations relying on Google Chrome for web browsing. Successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution, allowing attackers to compromise user data, install malware, or pivot within internal networks. Confidentiality is at risk as attackers may access sensitive information processed or stored by the browser. Integrity can be compromised through code injection or manipulation of browser behavior. Availability may be affected if exploitation leads to crashes or denial-of-service conditions. Sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and critical infrastructure are particularly vulnerable due to their reliance on secure web access and the sensitive nature of their data. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to lure victims to malicious sites. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for mitigation, but the high severity score underscores the urgency of patching. Failure to address this vulnerability could lead to widespread compromise, especially in environments with high Chrome usage and limited endpoint protection.

1. Immediate update of all Google Chrome installations to version 120.0.6099.109 or later to apply the official patch. 2. Enforce enterprise browser update policies to ensure timely deployment of security patches. 3. Implement web filtering solutions to block access to known malicious or suspicious websites that could host exploit payloads. 4. Educate users about the risks of clicking unknown links or visiting untrusted websites to reduce the likelihood of successful social engineering. 5. Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting anomalous browser behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 6. Use browser sandboxing and isolation technologies to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 7. Monitor network traffic for unusual outbound connections that may indicate post-exploitation activity. 8. Regularly review and audit browser extensions and plugins to minimize attack surface. 9. Coordinate with IT and security teams to ensure rapid incident response capability in case of exploitation. 10. Consider deploying multi-factor authentication and network segmentation to limit lateral movement if a compromise occurs.