CVE-2022-0305 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 02/14/2022
Inappropriate implementation in Service Worker API in Google Chrome prior to 97.0.4692.99 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to bypass site isolation via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/14/2022
The vulnerability under discussion represents a critical security flaw within the Service Worker API implementation in Google Chrome browsers prior to version 97.0.4692.99. This issue constitutes a privilege escalation vulnerability that allows remote attackers to bypass essential site isolation mechanisms when they have already compromised the renderer process. The flaw resides in how Chrome handles service worker registrations and execution contexts, creating an avenue for malicious actors to circumvent the browser's fundamental security boundaries that separate different websites and their respective processes. Site isolation serves as a critical defense mechanism in modern browsers, ensuring that content from different origins operates within distinct processes to prevent cross-site scripting attacks and information leakage between domains.
The technical implementation flaw stems from inadequate validation and enforcement of security boundaries within the Service Worker API execution environment. When a renderer process is compromised, attackers can craft malicious HTML pages that exploit the service worker registration mechanism to gain elevated privileges or access to resources that should be restricted. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of process isolation and web application security models, where the service worker's ability to register and execute in contexts that should be strictly controlled creates an attack surface. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate the service worker lifecycle management in ways that violate Chrome's intended security architecture, effectively allowing them to escape the confined environment of the compromised renderer process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it represents a bypass of multiple security layers within Chrome's architecture. Once an attacker compromises a renderer process, they can leverage this flaw to potentially access data from other origins, escalate privileges beyond what should be permitted, or execute malicious code with elevated permissions. This vulnerability directly impacts the browser's ability to maintain secure separation between different web applications and origins, undermining the core principle of web security that prevents malicious websites from accessing sensitive information from other sites. The attack scenario typically involves a successful initial compromise of a renderer process through techniques such as memory corruption exploits or social engineering, followed by the delivery of a crafted HTML page that triggers the service worker bypass.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Chrome browsers to version 97.0.4692.99 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly enforce site isolation boundaries within the Service Worker API implementation. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as strict content security policies, regular browser updates, and monitoring for suspicious service worker registrations in web applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter where attackers leverage compromised browsers to execute malicious code with elevated privileges. Network administrators should also consider implementing browser hardening policies that restrict service worker functionality in sensitive environments and monitor for unusual patterns in service worker registration and execution that could indicate exploitation attempts.