CVE-2024-4059 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability classified under CWE-125, affecting the V8 JavaScript engine API in Google Chrome versions prior to 124.0.6367.78. This flaw allows a remote attacker to craft a malicious HTML page that, when visited by a user, can cause the browser to read memory outside the intended bounds. This memory disclosure can lead to leakage of cross-site data, potentially exposing sensitive information from other websites the user has accessed. The vulnerability does not require any privileges or authentication but does require user interaction in the form of visiting a malicious webpage. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, reflecting a medium severity level, with a vector indicating network attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, unchanged scope, high confidentiality impact, and no impact on integrity or availability. Although no exploits are currently known in the wild, the nature of the vulnerability makes it a significant privacy risk, especially for users who browse untrusted or malicious websites. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on May 1, 2024, and Google has released Chrome version 124.0.6367.78 to address the issue. The lack of a patch link in the provided data suggests organizations should verify update availability directly from official Google Chrome channels. This vulnerability highlights the risks inherent in complex browser engines and the importance of timely patching to prevent data leakage attacks.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2024-4059 is the potential leakage of sensitive cross-site data, which can compromise user privacy and confidentiality of corporate information accessed via web browsers. This could lead to exposure of session tokens, personal data, or other confidential information stored or accessible through browser contexts. While the vulnerability does not allow code execution or system compromise, the data leakage could facilitate further targeted attacks such as phishing, identity theft, or corporate espionage. Organizations in sectors handling sensitive data—such as finance, healthcare, and government—are particularly at risk. The requirement for user interaction means social engineering or phishing campaigns could be used to exploit this vulnerability. Given the widespread use of Google Chrome across Europe, the scope of affected systems is broad, increasing the potential scale of impact. Additionally, regulatory frameworks like GDPR impose strict requirements on data protection, so data leakage incidents could lead to legal and reputational consequences for European entities.

1. Immediately update all Google Chrome installations to version 124.0.6367.78 or later to apply the official patch addressing CVE-2024-4059. 2. Implement enterprise-wide browser update policies to ensure timely deployment of security patches. 3. Employ web filtering and content security policies to block access to known malicious or untrusted websites that could host crafted HTML pages exploiting this vulnerability. 4. Educate users about the risks of clicking on suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites to reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation via social engineering. 5. Monitor network traffic and browser logs for unusual or suspicious activity indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected cross-site data requests or anomalous memory access patterns. 6. Consider deploying browser isolation or sandboxing technologies to limit the impact of potential browser-based attacks. 7. Coordinate with IT security teams to audit and verify that all endpoints are running updated browser versions and that legacy or unmanaged devices are identified and remediated.