CVE-2020-16044
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service via heap corruption in Chrome's WebRTC implementation. It affects all users running vulnerable versions of Google Chrome when processing malicious SCTP packets, typically during WebRTC sessions.
💻 Affected Systems
- Google Chrome
- Chromium-based browsers
📦 What is this software?
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 →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution leading to full system compromise, data theft, or persistent malware installation.
Likely Case
Browser crash (denial of service) or limited memory corruption leading to information disclosure.
If Mitigated
No impact if Chrome is fully patched or WebRTC/SCTP functionality is disabled.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires crafting malicious SCTP packets and triggering the use-after-free condition during WebRTC sessions.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 88.0.4324.96 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2021/01/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_19.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Chrome. 2. Click menu (three dots) → Help → About Google Chrome. 3. Chrome will automatically check for and apply updates. 4. Restart Chrome when prompted.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable WebRTC
allPrevents exploitation by disabling WebRTC functionality entirely.
chrome://flags/#disable-webrtc
Set to 'Disabled'
Disable SCTP in WebRTC
allDisables SCTP transport protocol in WebRTC.
chrome://flags/#disable-sctp-data-channels
Set to 'Disabled'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Use browser isolation technology to contain potential exploitation
- Implement network filtering to block or inspect WebRTC/SCTP traffic
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Chrome version: if below 88.0.4324.96, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
chrome://version/Verify Fix Applied:
Confirm Chrome version is 88.0.4324.96 or higher.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Chrome crash reports
- WebRTC error logs
- SCTP protocol errors
Network Indicators:
- Unusual SCTP packet patterns
- WebRTC session anomalies
SIEM Query:
source="chrome" AND (event="crash" OR error="webrtc" OR error="sctp")