CVE-2022-0106 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE • 02/12/2022
Use after free in Autofill in Google Chrome prior to 97.0.4692.71 allowed a remote attacker who convinced a user to perform specific user gesture to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in the autofill functionality of google chrome versions prior to 97.0.4692.71. The flaw occurs within the browser's form filling system where memory allocated for autofill data structures is freed from memory but continues to be referenced by subsequent operations. This specific vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration category of CWE-416 which defines use-after-free conditions as a direct consequence of improper memory management practices. The security risk materializes when an attacker crafts a malicious html page that triggers specific user interactions, leveraging the browser's autofill mechanism to execute arbitrary code through heap corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption to potentially enable remote code execution within the context of the chrome browser process. Attackers can exploit this weakness by convincing victims to perform specific user gestures such as clicking on malicious links or interacting with crafted web content that triggers the vulnerable autofill code path. The attack requires user interaction because the exploitation relies on triggering legitimate browser functionality through user-driven actions, making it a client-side attack vector that bypasses traditional network-based security controls. This vulnerability specifically affects the chrome browser's rendering engine and its associated memory management systems, potentially allowing attackers to execute malicious payloads with the privileges of the browser process.
The technical exploitation mechanism involves manipulating the browser's autofill subsystem to create conditions where freed memory blocks are accessed after deallocation. When a user interacts with a crafted page that triggers the vulnerable code path, the browser's memory allocator frees certain data structures associated with form filling operations while simultaneously allowing other code paths to reference these freed locations. This creates an opportunity for heap spraying and memory corruption attacks that can be leveraged to redirect program execution flow or inject malicious code into the browser process memory space. The vulnerability demonstrates how improper memory management in complex software systems can create dangerous security implications that extend far beyond simple data corruption.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patching of affected chrome versions to ensure users operate with updated browser releases that contain proper memory management fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies and consider deploying automated update mechanisms to minimize exposure windows. Additionally, network security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional layers of protection by blocking access to known malicious domains and monitoring for suspicious javascript behavior patterns. The remediation process should also include user education regarding the importance of avoiding suspicious links and interactions with untrusted web content, particularly when dealing with form filling and auto-complete features in browsers. This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of regular security updates and proper memory management practices in preventing remote exploitation scenarios that can lead to complete system compromise.