CVE-2020-15965
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability is a type confusion flaw in Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine that allows attackers to potentially access memory outside intended bounds. Attackers can exploit this by tricking users into visiting a malicious webpage, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. All users running vulnerable versions of Google Chrome are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Google Chrome
📦 What is this software?
Backports Sle by Opensuse
Backports Sle by Opensuse
Chrome by Google
Google Chrome is the world's most popular web browser, used by over 3 billion users globally across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS platforms. As a Chromium-based browser developed by Google, Chrome dominates the browser market with approximately 65% market share, making it a critical compon...
Learn more about Chrome →Fedora by Fedoraproject
Fedora by Fedoraproject
Fedora by Fedoraproject
Leap by Opensuse
Leap by Opensuse
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution with the same privileges as the Chrome process, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or ransomware deployment.
Likely Case
Browser crash (denial of service) or limited memory corruption that could be leveraged for information disclosure or sandbox escape.
If Mitigated
No impact if Chrome is fully patched or if exploit attempts are blocked by security controls like web filtering or endpoint protection.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction (visiting malicious page) but no authentication. Type confusion vulnerabilities in V8 are frequently exploited in the wild.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 85.0.4183.121
Vendor Advisory: https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2020/09/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_21.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Chrome. 2. Click the three-dot menu → Help → About Google Chrome. 3. Chrome will automatically check for and install updates. 4. Click 'Relaunch' to restart Chrome with the patched version.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable JavaScript
allPrevents exploitation by disabling JavaScript execution in Chrome
Use Site Isolation
allEnables Chrome's Site Isolation feature to limit impact of renderer process compromises
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Restrict access to untrusted websites using web filtering or proxy controls
- Deploy endpoint protection with exploit prevention capabilities
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Chrome version: If version is less than 85.0.4183.121, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
chrome://version/ (in Chrome address bar) or 'google-chrome --version' (Linux terminal)Verify Fix Applied:
Confirm Chrome version is 85.0.4183.121 or higher after update.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Chrome crash reports with V8-related errors
- Unexpected Chrome process termination
Network Indicators:
- Requests to known malicious domains hosting exploit code
- Unusual outbound connections from Chrome processes
SIEM Query:
source="chrome" AND (event_type="crash" OR message="*V8*" OR message="*type confusion*")🔗 References
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00087.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00095.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00096.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00049.html
- https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2020/09/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_21.html
- https://crbug.com/1126249
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/FN7HZIGAOCZKBT4LV363BCPRA5FLY25I/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GNIYFJST4TFJYFZ27VODBOINCLBGULTD/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/YWNBJFBPKYCYSZTS54FHNCRZG6KC2AIJ/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202009-13
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202101-30
- https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4824
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00087.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00095.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-09/msg00096.html
- http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-10/msg00049.html
- https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2020/09/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_21.html
- https://crbug.com/1126249
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/FN7HZIGAOCZKBT4LV363BCPRA5FLY25I/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/GNIYFJST4TFJYFZ27VODBOINCLBGULTD/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/YWNBJFBPKYCYSZTS54FHNCRZG6KC2AIJ/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202009-13
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202101-30
- https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4824
