CVE-2022-0302 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2022
Use after free in Omnibox in Google Chrome prior to 97.0.4692.99 allowed an attacker who convinced a user to engage in specific user interactions to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in the omnibox component of google chrome versions prior to 97.0.4692.99 which falls under the common weakness enumeration category CWE-416. The flaw occurs when the browser processes user interactions with the address bar or omnibox functionality, creating a scenario where memory allocated to certain objects becomes freed while still being referenced by subsequent operations. This type of vulnerability typically arises from improper object lifecycle management where references to memory are not properly invalidated after deallocation.
The attack vector requires social engineering to convince a user to perform specific interactions with a crafted html page that triggers the vulnerable code path within chrome's rendering engine. When users engage with malicious content through the omnibox, the browser's internal memory management fails to properly track object references, leading to heap corruption that can be exploited by remote attackers. This particular vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign user interface components can harbor serious security flaws that could enable arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption as it provides potential attackers with a pathway for privilege escalation and system compromise. The use-after-free condition creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate heap metadata, potentially leading to code execution in the context of the chrome process. This aligns with attack techniques described in the mitre att&ck framework under initial access and execution phases where adversaries leverage browser vulnerabilities to establish persistent access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected chrome versions to 97.0.4692.99 or later, as google released security updates addressing the heap corruption issue through improved memory management practices. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies and consider deploying additional security controls such as content security policies, sandboxing mechanisms, and web application firewalls to reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of thorough code review processes for user interface components and proper memory management practices in browser engines.
This particular flaw underscores the complexity of modern browser security architectures where multiple attack surfaces exist within single applications. The omnibox component represents a high-value target for attackers due to its frequent user interaction patterns and direct access to browsing functionality. Security teams should prioritize regular vulnerability assessments of browser components and maintain awareness of emerging threats targeting web rendering engines, as these vulnerabilities often provide the foundation for more sophisticated attacks in targeted campaigns.