CVE-2020-6492
📋 TL;DR
This is a use-after-free vulnerability in ANGLE (Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine) component of Google Chrome that could allow a remote attacker to escape Chrome's sandbox via a crafted HTML page. It affects Chrome users on all platforms who haven't updated to version 83.0.4103.97 or later. The vulnerability enables potential sandbox escape, which is particularly dangerous as Chrome's sandbox is a critical security boundary.
💻 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
Complete sandbox escape allowing attacker to execute arbitrary code on the victim's system with the same privileges as the Chrome process, potentially leading to full system compromise.
Likely Case
Successful sandbox escape enabling attacker to execute code outside Chrome's security boundaries, potentially installing malware, stealing data, or establishing persistence.
If Mitigated
Attack contained within Chrome's sandbox with limited impact if sandbox escape fails, though browser compromise could still occur.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user to visit a malicious website. The vulnerability is in ANGLE's graphics layer, making exploitation complex but potentially very impactful due to sandbox escape capability.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 83.0.4103.97 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2020/06/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Chrome and click the three-dot menu. 2. Go to Help > About Google Chrome. 3. Chrome will automatically check for updates and install version 83.0.4103.97 or later. 4. Click 'Relaunch' to restart Chrome with the update applied.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable WebGL
allDisables ANGLE component by turning off WebGL, which may break some websites but reduces attack surface
chrome://flags/#disable-webgl
Set to 'Disabled'
Enable Site Isolation
allEnhances sandboxing by isolating each website in separate processes
chrome://flags/#enable-site-per-process
Set to 'Enabled'
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Use alternative browser until Chrome can be updated
- Implement network filtering to block suspicious websites and reduce exposure
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Chrome version: If version is less than 83.0.4103.97, system is vulnerableCheck Version:
google-chrome --version (Linux) or chrome://version in browser address barVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm Chrome version is 83.0.4103.97 or higher📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Chrome crash reports with ANGLE-related stack traces
- Unusual process creation from Chrome sandbox
Network Indicators:
- Requests to known malicious domains hosting exploit code
- Unusual outbound connections from Chrome processes
SIEM Query:
process_name:chrome.exe AND (parent_process:chrome.exe OR cmdline:*sandbox*) AND event_type:process_creation