One day short of a full chain: Real world exploit chains explained

GitHub Security Lab explored the complex journey from proof of concept to full exploit chain by combining multiple vulnerabilities within Google and Qualcomm Android system components, showcasing how attackers could move from exploiting the Chrome browser to gaining privileged system access on Android devices. The research detailed three critical vulnerabilities, beginning with a Use After Free flaw in the Qualcomm Kernel Graphics Support Layer that allowed privilege escalation, followed by a memory management flaw in Chrome's payment processing that enabled sandbox escape, and concluding with a WebAudio handling vulnerability for arbitrary code execution in the Chrome Renderer. These vulnerabilities, all reported and patched by 2020, demonstrated how attackers leverage multiple flaws to bypass system mitigations and achieve their goals, emphasizing the importance of understanding and improving system defenses against sophisticated attacks. The research highlighted that such complex attack chains, often attributed to state-sponsored groups, can be constructed by individual researchers using open research materials, providing crucial insights into the real-world effectiveness of system security measures.