CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2024-21640NVD status: Modified

cef: Out-of-bounds Read

CVE-2024-21640 is a critical-severity out-of-bounds read vulnerability in cef from Chromiumembedded, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 9.6 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an attacker with a low-privileged account, without any action from a user. Affected cef versions: < commit 1f55d2e. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.55% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.

Patch this week

Critical severity: a successful attack would have severe impact.

What to do

  1. Update Chromium Embedded Framework to 2024-01-05 or a later version.
  2. Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
Chromiumembeddedcef< commit 1f55d2eNot stated
ChromiumembeddedChromium Embedded Frameworkbefore 2024-01-052024-01-05

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.

How the severity score breaks down

Attack vector
NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
Attack complexity
LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
Privileges required
LowA basic user account is enough.
User interaction
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
ChangedThe attack can reach beyond the vulnerable component into other systems.
Confidentiality
HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.15.4MediumCNA (github.com)
CVSS 3.19.6CriticalNVD

Official description

Chromium Embedded Framework (CEF) is a simple framework for embedding Chromium-based browsers in other applications.`CefVideoConsumerOSR::OnFrameCaptured` does not check `pixel_format` properly, which leads to out-of-bounds read out of the sandbox. This vulnerability was patched in commit 1f55d2e.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Out-of-bounds Read

The product reads data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Use a language that provides appropriate memory abstractions.

More Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities (CWE-125)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in cef

All cef vulnerabilities

Recent Out-of-bounds Read vulnerabilities

Spotted an error? Tell us.