Platform Security Briefing — Chrome 80 patches actively exploited V8 zero-day (CVE-2020-6418)
Google’s 24 February 2020 stable release patches CVE-2020-6418, a V8 type confusion exploited in the wild; admins must force-update Chrome, validate enterprise policies, and monitor for crash telemetry anomalies.
Executive briefing: Google released Chrome 80.0.3987.122 on to patch CVE-2020-6418, a V8 type confusion bug exploited in the wild that allowed remote code execution when a user visited a malicious page. The update also delivered additional security fixes and performance improvements across desktop platforms.
Validated sources
- Chrome Releases blog announcing the patch and acknowledging active exploitation.
- NVD entry for CVE-2020-6418 summarizing the vulnerability details and severity.
- Microsoft Edge (Chromium) advisory noting parallel remediation requirements for enterprise Edge deployments.
Control mappings
- NIST SP 800-53 Rev.5 SI-2 & CM-7: Require rapid deployment of vendor updates and removal of unsupported browser builds.
- CIS Controls v8 10.5 & 16.13: Enforce browser auto-update, restrict extensions, and monitor execution anomalies to detect exploit attempts.
- ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A.8.8: Maintain configuration standards for browsers and script engines, including rollback and validation procedures.
Implementation checklist
- Force-update Chrome (and Edge Chromium) to 80.0.3987.122 or later through enterprise policy; block deferrals for internet-facing systems.
- Verify update status via chrome://policy, enterprise reporting APIs, or MDM dashboards; alert on versions older than 80.0.3987.122.
- Enable site isolation and strict origin isolation settings to reduce exploit impact; disable unneeded plugins and legacy protocols.
- Monitor crash telemetry and EDR alerts for V8 process anomalies, which may indicate exploit attempts.
Detection and communication
- Deploy EDR detection logic for suspicious Renderer and V8 processes spawning child processes or executing shellcode-like behavior.
- Publish targeted end-user communications to restart browsers after auto-update; provide screenshots for managed platforms showing the required version string.
- Review proxy and DNS logs for unusual destinations tied to exploit kits around the release date and increase blocking for domains flagged by threat intel.
- Update extension allowlists and block high-risk categories (cryptominers, unverified PDF tools) that could be chained with script engine exploits.
Assurance notes
- Document extension allowlists and periodic reviews to reduce exposure to unvetted code paths that could pair with V8 exploits.
- Retire legacy operating systems where Chromium updates are no longer available or supported.
- Keep evidence of policy enforcement (screenshots, exported JSON from chrome://policy) for audits that test browser patch governance.
Post-patch validation
- Spot-check critical web apps for compatibility with site isolation and strict origin policies; file vendor tickets for breakage and maintain temporary allowlists with expiry dates.
- Confirm that security proxies and SSL inspection devices are not pinning outdated Chromium versions that block updates.
- Collect before/after screenshots of chrome://version and enterprise policy pages for audit evidence and attach them to change records.
- Engage threat intel teams to monitor for exploit kit activity tied to CVE-2020-6418 and update blocklists as new indicators emerge.
Kiosk and shared device coverage
- Audit digital signage, kiosks, and call-center shared devices that may run pinned browser versions; schedule maintenance windows to push updates and verify tamper protection remains enabled.
- Ensure remote browsing or isolation services are patched in parallel so risk-based routing does not leave an unpatched Chromium build available to high-risk users.