CVE-2022-0304 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2022
Use after free in Bookmarks in Google Chrome prior to 97.0.4692.99 allowed a remote 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 • 06/20/2026
This vulnerability represents a use-after-free condition in the bookmarks functionality 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 crafted html content that triggers improper memory management during bookmark operations. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious web pages that manipulate the browser's bookmark handling mechanisms to cause the application to access freed memory locations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through user interactions with malicious web content, making it a remote code execution vector. The heap corruption resulting from this use-after-free condition can lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the chrome browser process. This type of vulnerability aligns with the attack pattern described in the attack tree framework where an adversary leverages browser-based attacks to gain unauthorized system access. The exploitation requires the victim to interact with the malicious page, typically through clicking on links or triggering specific javascript functions that initiate the bookmark handling code path. The memory corruption can manifest in various ways including application crashes, data corruption, or potentially full system compromise depending on the execution environment. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where users may encounter malicious content through phishing campaigns or compromised websites. The issue stems from inadequate memory management practices in the browser's bookmark subsystem where objects are not properly validated before being accessed after deallocation. The exploitation process typically involves crafting specific html elements that trigger the bookmark creation or modification routines, followed by careful manipulation of the memory layout to achieve the desired heap corruption. The attack vector is classified as remote because the malicious code does not require local system access and can be delivered through standard web browsing channels. According to security best practices, this vulnerability should be addressed through proper memory management techniques including reference counting, smart pointers, or explicit null checks before memory access. The recommended mitigation involves updating to chrome version 97.0.4692.99 or later where the memory management issues have been corrected. Organizations should also implement web filtering solutions and user education programs to reduce the risk of encountering malicious content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory safety practices in browser applications and highlights the need for continuous security auditing of complex software systems. This particular flaw could be leveraged in advanced persistent threat campaigns where attackers use social engineering to convince users to visit malicious websites containing the exploit code. The remediation process requires careful code review of the bookmark handling subsystem to ensure all memory allocations are properly tracked and validated before access. Security researchers have identified that similar vulnerabilities in browser components often stem from complex interactions between javascript engines and native code, making them particularly challenging to detect and prevent through automated means alone.