Google has joined the list of major software providers scrambling to respond to zero-day exploits in the wild.
On the same day Apple pushed out iOS and macOS patches to address gaping security holes, Google shipped an advisory of its own to warn of a pair of already-exploited flaws in its desktop Chrome browser.
“Google is aware that exploits for CVE-2021-30632 and CVE-2021-30633 exist in the wild,” the company said.
Google did not provide any additional details on the vulnerability or public exploits. The company said the two flaws were reported anonymously.
The raw details:
- High-severity – CVE-2021-30632: Out of bounds write in V8. Reported by Anonymous on 2021-09-08
- High-severity – CVE-2021-30633: Use after free in Indexed DB API. Reported by Anonymous on 2021-09-08
The new Google Chrome 93.0.4577.82, available for Windows, macOS and Linux users, fixes at least nine documented security defects, all carrying a “high-severity” rating.
[ READ: Apple Ships Urgent Patch for FORCEDENTRY Zero-Days ]
There have been 66 documented zero-day attacks so far in 2021. According to data reviewed by SecurityWeek, 11 of the 66 zero-days targeted security defects in Google’s Chrome and Android platforms.
The Chrome browser patch comes on the heels of Apple shipping fixes for iOS and macOS flaws that are being “actively exploited” and less than a week after Microsoft confirmed zero-day attacks hitting its Microsoft Office software suite.
The Redmond, Wash. software giant issued an urgent pre-patch advisory last week to warn of a remote code execution vulnerability in MSHTML, the proprietary browsing engine built into the Office productivity suite.
[ READ: Microsoft Office Zero-Day Hit in Targeted Attacks ]
“Microsoft is aware of targeted attacks that attempt to exploit this vulnerability by using specially-crafted Microsoft Office documents,” the company said.
As is customary, Redmond’s security response team did not provide additional details of the live attacks but there are enough clues in the attribution section of the advisory to suggest this is the work of nation-state APT actors.
Microsoft credited four different external researchers with reporting this exploit. Three of the four are affiliated with Mandiant, an anti-malware forensics firm that regularly documents high-end targeted attacks.
The company described the attacks as “targeted,” code-speak for the types of Windows malware implants used for government cyber-espionage or corporate data theft.
Related: Apple Adds ‘BlastDoor’ to Secure iPhones From Zero-Click Attacks
Related: Microsoft Patches 3 Under-Attack Windows Zero-Days
Related: Microsoft Raises Alarm for New Windows Zero-Day Attacks
Related: Apple Patches ‘Actively Exploited’ Mac, iOS Security Flaw
Ryan Naraine is Editor-at-Large at SecurityWeek and host of the popular Security Conversations podcast series. He is a security community engagement expert who has built programs at major global brands, including Intel Corp., Bishop Fox and GReAT. Ryan is a founding-director of the Security Tinkerers non-profit, an advisor to early-stage entrepreneurs, and a regular speaker at security conferences around the world.
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