Threat Intelligence Report

Comprehensive Review of Critical Browser Vulnerabilities

Overview
Web browsers are indispensable tools for businesses, offering seamless access to a vast array of websites and
content. However, they also present significant security risks. It's reported that 95% of undetectable malware is
spread through web browsing, costing organizations an average of $3.2 million. Beyond common threats, recent
discoveries have unveiled critical browser vulnerabilities that expose businesses to even greater dangers. Notably, a
newly discovered 18-year-old vulnerability, dubbed "0.0.0.0 Day," affects major browsers like Chrome, Firefox, and
Safari, allowing attackers to bypass all browser security measures and access internal networks. These
vulnerabilities underscore the urgency for businesses to stay vigilant and address these hidden dangers promptly.

Why do Browser-Based Attacks happen?

Browser-based attacks occur due to a combination of technical flaws, insecure practices, and malicious actions.
Here are some key reasons why these attacks happen:

•Technical Vulnerabilities: Flaws in browsers, plugins, and web applications provide entry points for attackers to
exploit.

•Insecure Web Practices: Poor coding, lax security measures, and inadequate validation create vulnerabilities ripe
for exploitation.

•User Ignorance: Lack of awareness about threats and safe browsing practices makes users vulnerable to
manipulation.

•Software Neglect: Failure to update browsers, plugins, and systems leaves known vulnerabilities unpatched and
easy targets for attackers.

•Third-party Risks: Dependencies on external scripts and services introduce additional attack vectors.
 •Financial Motivation: Attackers engage in activities like data theft, fraud, and ransomware for financial
gain.

•Additional Insight: Browsers and their plugins often serve as entry points for more sophisticated attacks,
making regular updates and vigilant security practices essential.

Common Browser Vulnerabilities and Exploits

Cross-Site Scripting (XSS)

 Tactic: Execution
 Technique: Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203)
 Detail: XSS attacks involve injecting malicious scripts into web pages viewed by other users, which can steal
sensitive information or deface websites.

Mitigation:

Input Validation and Output Encoding: Validate and sanitize all user inputs. Use proper encoding techniques to
mitigate XSS vulnerabilities.
Regular Security Assessments: Conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and fix potential XSS issues.

Cross-Site Request Forgery (CSRF)

 Tactic: Execution
 Technique: Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203)
 Detail: CSRF attacks trick users into executing unwanted actions on web applications where they are authenticated,
often through malicious requests disguised as legitimate ones.

Mitigation:

Input Validation and Output Encoding: Use proper validation to ensure that requests are legitimate.
Vulnerability Assessments: Regularly assess web applications for vulnerabilities.

Drive-By Downloads

 Tactic: Initial Access

 Technique: Drive-by Compromise (T1189)
 Detail: Drive-by download attacks exploit browser or plugin vulnerabilities to download and execute malicious
code on a user's system without their knowledge.

Mitigation:

Keep Software Updated: Regularly update browsers and plugins to the latest versions.
 Enable Click-to-Play for Plugins: Configure browsers to require permission before running plugins.

Man-in-the-Middle (MitM) Attacks

 Tactic: Collection
 Technique: Adversary-in-the-Middle (T1557)
 Detail: MitM attacks intercept communication between a user's browser and a website, allowing attackers to
eavesdrop or modify the data exchanged.

Mitigation:

Use HTTPS Everywhere: Prefer websites that use HTTPS for secure communication.
Educate Users: Raise awareness about the dangers of unsecured networks and the importance of secure browsing
practices.

Clickjacking

 Tactic: Initial Access

 Technique: Phishing (T1566)
 Detail: Clickjacking tricks users into clicking on something different from what they perceive by overlaying
transparent elements on legitimate web content.

Mitigation:

Input Validation and Output Encoding: Ensure proper handling of click events and user input to prevent
clickjacking.

Browser Hijacking

 Tactic: Command and Control

 Technique: Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols (T1071.001)
 Detail: Browser hijacking occurs when malware takes control of a user's browser, often through malicious
extensions or plugins, leading to unwanted redirections or settings changes.

Mitigation:

Use a Secure Browser: Choose browsers known for their security features.
Keep Software Updated: Regularly update browsers and remove unnecessary or outdated plugins.

Session Hijacking

 Tactic: Collection
 Technique: Browser Session Hijacking(T1185)
 Detail: Session hijacking involves stealing a user's session token or cookies to impersonate them and gain
unauthorized access to their accounts.
 Mitigation:

Use HTTPS Everywhere: Prefer websites that use HTTPS for secure communication.
Educate Users: Inform users about the risks of unsecured networks and the importance of secure browsing
practices.

Latest Browsers Vulnerabilities

The 0.0.0.0-Day Vulnerability

For the last 18 years, a critical vulnerability affecting Chrome, Firefox, and Safari has allowed attackers to bypass
browser security and access internal networks. This issue, dubbed “0.0.0.0-Day,” arises from the way browsers
handle queries to the 0.0.0.0 IP address, which can lead to unauthorized access and remote code execution.

 Exploited Browsers: Chrome, Firefox, Safari

 Security Implications and Exploitation Techniques:

Tactic: Initial Access

Technique: Drive-by Compromise (T1189)

Detail: The 0.0.0.0-Day vulnerability allows attackers to exploit the way browsers handle requests to the 0.0.0.0 IP
address, potentially gaining unauthorized access to internal networks and executing remote code. This could be used
in a drive-by compromise, where users are tricked into visiting a malicious site that sends unauthorized requests.

Tactic: Discovery

Technique: Network Service Discovery (T1046)

Detail: The exploitation of the 0.0.0.0 IP address involves sending requests to internal network services, which can
be used for network service scanning. This allows attackers to discover and interact with private services on internal
networks, potentially leading to unauthorized access.

Tactic: Lateral Movement

Technique: Lateral Tool Transfer (T1570)

Detail: The unauthorized access to internal networks and remote code execution enabled by the 0.0.0.0 vulnerability
can be associated with techniques that involve executing code on a remote machine. Attackers can exploit the
loophole to copy and execute malicious files or commands on internal servers.
 Affected Systems: Primarily affects web servers and internal network services.

 Exploitation: Malicious requests to 0.0.0.0 can access private data and execute rogue code.

 Current Mitigations:

 Apple Safari: Blocking 0.0.0.0 in macOS 15 Sequoia beta

 Google Chrome: Planning to block 0.0.0.0 in future updates
 Mozilla Firefox: Yet to implement a fix due to potential compatibility issues
 Industry Response:

Google's introduction of Private Network Access (PNA) aims to restrict requests to more secure contexts.
However, the 0.0.0.0 loophole remains a significant security risk until fully addressed by all major browsers.
This vulnerability highlights the need for industry standardization and robust security measures to protect
against evolving threats.

Firefox Vulnerabilities

Mozilla Firefox 129 Security Update:

Mozilla has released Firefox version 129, addressing multiple high-severity vulnerabilities. These patches are
critical for enhancing the browser’s security and protecting users from potential exploits.

Key Vulnerabilities Addressed:

CVE-ID: CVE-2024-7518

Impact: High

Description: Out-of-bounds memory access in graphics shared memory handling.

Tactic: Execution

Technique: Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203)

Detail: Out-of-bounds memory access in graphics shared memory can lead to memory corruption, which might be
exploited to execute arbitrary code. Attackers could potentially gain control over the affected system by exploiting
this vulnerability.
CVE-ID: CVE-2024-7522

Impact: High

Description: Out-of-bounds read in the editor component.

Tactic: Execution

Technique: Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203)

Detail: The out-of-bounds read in the editor component can result in memory corruption. This issue could be
exploited to execute arbitrary code or access sensitive information from memory that should not be exposed.

CVE-ID: CVE-2024-7525

Impact: High

Description: Missing permission check when creating a StreamFilter.

Tactic: Privilege Escalation

Technique: Exploitation for Privilege Escalation (T1203)

Detail: The missing permission check when creating a StreamFilter could allow unauthorized users to gain
elevated privileges. This vulnerability can be exploited to bypass security controls and perform actions that should
be restricted.

CVE-ID: CVE-2024-7526

Impact: High

Description: Uninitialized memory used by WebGL.

Tactic: Execution

Technique: Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203)

Detail: Uninitialized memory used by WebGL can lead to unpredictable behavior and potential execution of
arbitrary code. Attackers could exploit this flaw to execute malicious code by accessing memory that has not
been properly initialized.
CVE-ID: CVE-2024-7527

Impact: High

Description: Use-after-free in JavaScript garbage collection.

Tactic: Execution

Technique: Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203)

Detail: The use-after-free vulnerability in JavaScript garbage collection can be exploited to execute arbitrary code.
By manipulating memory that has already been freed, attackers can potentially control the execution flow and
compromise the system.

CVE-ID: CVE-2024-7528

Impact: High

Description: Use-after-free in IndexedDB.

Tactic: Execution

Technique: Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203)

Detail: The use-after-free vulnerability in IndexedDB can be exploited to execute arbitrary code by accessing
memory that has been freed. This can lead to unauthorized actions and system compromise.

 These vulnerabilities pose significant risks, including potential spoofing attacks, memory corruption, sandbox
escapes, and unauthorized data access. For instance, CVE-2024-7518 could allow a malicious site to obscure
fullscreen notification dialogs, potentially tricking users into performing unintended actions. Similarly,
CVE-2024-7519 involves out-of-bounds memory access, which could lead to memory corruption and
sandbox escapes. Mozilla's proactive approach to addressing these issues underscores the importance of
regular software updates and vigilance in cybersecurity practices.

Chrome Vulnerabilities

Google Chrome 127 Security Update:

Google has released a critical security update for its Chrome browser, addressing multiple high-severity
vulnerabilities that could allow attackers to execute malicious code on users’ systems. The update, version
127.0.6533.99/.100 for Windows and Mac, and 127.0.6533.99 for Linux, was announced on August 6, 2024.
 Key Vulnerabilities Addressed:

CVE-ID: CVE-2024-7532

Impact: Critical

Description: Out-of-bounds memory access in ANGLE (Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine).

Tactic: Execution

Technique: Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203)

Detail: Out-of-bounds memory access in ANGLE can lead to memory corruption, which might be exploited
to execute arbitrary code. This is a significant security risk as it can allow attackers to gain control over the
affected system.

CVE-ID: CVE-2024-7533

Impact: High

Description: A use-after-free vulnerability in the Sharing feature.

Tactic: Execution

Technique: Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203)

Detail: The use-after-free vulnerability in the Sharing feature can be exploited to execute arbitrary code. At-
tackers might use this flaw to access and manipulate memory that has already been freed, potentially leading to unautho-
rized actions on the system.

CVE-ID: CVE-2024-7534

Impact: High

Description: A heap buffer overflow in the Layout component.

Tactic: Execution

Technique: Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203)

Detail: A heap buffer overflow in the Layout component can lead to code execution by overwriting the memory.
This vulnerability can be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code, affecting the stability and security
of the system.
 CVE-ID: CVE-2024-7535

Impact: High

Description: An inappropriate implementation in V8 JavaScript Engine.

Tactic: Execution

Technique: Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203)

Detail: The inappropriate implementation in V8 JavaScript Engine can be exploited to execute arbitrary code. This
vulnerability involves flaws in the JavaScript engine, which can be leveraged by attackers to execute malicious code
within the browser.

CVE-ID: CVE-2024-7536

Impact: High

Description: A use-after-free vulnerability in WebAudio.

Tactic: Execution

Technique: Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203)

Detail: The use-after-free vulnerability in WebAudio allows attackers to execute arbitrary code by exploiting
memory that has been freed. This can lead to unauthorized actions and system compromise.

 Malicious actors could potentially exploit these vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to users’ systems,
steal sensitive information, or execute arbitrary code. Users are strongly advised to update their Chrome
browsers immediately to the latest version to protect themselves from potential attacks.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, while browser vulnerabilities present significant security challenges, understanding these
risks and implementing proactive measures can significantly reduce the likelihood of successful attacks. As
threats evolve, maintaining vigilance and adapting security practices will remain critical to
safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring a secure browsing experience.