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Google fixes ninth Chrome zero-day exploited in attacks this year. ​​Today, Google released a new Chrome emergency security update to patch a zero-day vulnerability tagged as exploited in attacks. "Google is aware that an exploit for CVE-2024-7971 exists in the wild," the company said in an advisory published on Wednesday. This high-severity zero-day vulnerability is caused by a type confusion weakness in Chrome's V8 JavaScript engine. Security researchers with the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center (MSTIC) and Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC) reported it on Monday. Although such security flaws can commonly enable attackers to trigger browser crashes after data allocated into memory is interpreted as a different type, they can also exploit them for arbitrary code execution on targeted devices running unpatched browsers. Google has fixed the zero-day with the release of 128.0.6613.84/.85 for Windows/macOS and 128.0.6613.84 (Linux), versions that will roll out to all users in the Stable Desktop channel over the coming weeks. While Chrome updates automatically when security patches are available, users can also speed up the process by going to the Chrome menu > Help > About Google Chrome, letting the update finish, and clicking the 'Relaunch' button to install it. Today's update was immediately available when BleepingComputer looked for new updates today. ​Even though Google confirmed the CVE-2024-7971 vulnerability was used in attacks, the company has yet to share additional information regarding in-the-wild exploitation. "Access to bug details and links may be kept restricted until a majority of users are updated with a fix," Google said. "We will also retain restrictions if the bug exists in a third party library that other projects similarly depend on, but haven't yet fixed." CVE-2024-7971 is the ninth Chrome zero-day patched by Google in 2024, either exploited in the wild or at the Pwn2Own hacking contest:

Daily Brief Summary

MALWARE // Google Patches Ninth Chrome Zero-Day Vulnerability in 2024

Google released an emergency security update for Chrome to address a zero-day vulnerability exploited in attacks.

The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2024-7971, involves a type confusion issue in the V8 JavaScript engine, leading to potential arbitrary code execution.

This vulnerability marks the ninth zero-day flaw Google has addressed in Chrome this year, signaling ongoing security challenges.

The flaw was reported by the Microsoft Threat Intelligence Center and Microsoft Security Response Center on Monday.

Updates to Chrome (versions 128.0.6613.84/.85 for Windows/macOS and 128.0.6613.84 for Linux) are rolling out to users on the Stable Desktop channel.

Chrome users can expedite the update process manually via the browser's menu to ensure protection is applied sooner.

Google has restricted details about the exploitation of the vulnerability and will continue to limit information until the majority of users receive the update.