CVE-2024-4671 is a use-after-free vulnerability identified in the Visuals component of Google Chrome versions prior to 124.0.6367.201. A use-after-free (CWE-416) occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, leading to undefined behavior including potential code execution. In this case, an attacker who has already compromised the renderer process—which handles the rendering of web content—can exploit this vulnerability by delivering a crafted HTML page that triggers the use-after-free condition. This can lead to a sandbox escape, allowing the attacker to break out of the restricted environment of the renderer process and execute code with higher privileges on the host system. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.6 (critical), reflecting its high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, ease of exploitation (no privileges required, user interaction needed), and the potential for a broad scope of affected systems given Chrome's widespread use. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the nature of the vulnerability and its critical severity make it a significant threat. The vulnerability was published on May 9, 2024, and affects all Chrome versions prior to 124.0.6367.201. No patch links were provided in the source, but updating to the fixed version is the primary remediation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of Google Chrome across enterprises and public sectors. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to escape the browser sandbox, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or disruption of services. This is particularly concerning for organizations handling sensitive personal data under GDPR, critical infrastructure, financial institutions, and government agencies. The ability to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges can facilitate lateral movement within networks, espionage, or ransomware deployment. The requirement for user interaction (visiting a malicious webpage) means phishing or drive-by download attacks could be vectors. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the critical severity demands urgent attention to prevent exploitation as threat actors may develop exploits rapidly.

1. Immediately update all Google Chrome installations to version 124.0.6367.201 or later where the vulnerability is fixed. 2. Employ enterprise browser management tools to enforce automatic updates and prevent use of outdated versions. 3. Harden endpoint security by deploying advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting sandbox escape attempts. 4. Implement network-level protections such as web filtering and URL reputation services to block access to malicious websites. 5. Educate users on phishing risks and the dangers of interacting with untrusted web content to reduce the likelihood of triggering the exploit. 6. Use sandboxing and application isolation technologies beyond the browser to limit the impact of potential escapes. 7. Monitor security advisories from Google and threat intelligence sources for any emerging exploit reports or patches. 8. Consider restricting or monitoring the use of browser extensions and plugins that could increase attack surface.