CVE-2022-0463 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE • 04/05/2022
Use after free in Accessibility in Google Chrome prior to 98.0.4758.80 allowed a remote attacker who convinced a user to engage in specific user interaction to potentially exploit heap corruption via user interaction.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2022
This vulnerability represents a use-after-free condition affecting the accessibility features within Google Chrome browser versions prior to 98.0.4758.80. The flaw resides in how the browser handles memory management during accessibility service operations, specifically when dealing with objects that are freed from memory but subsequently referenced by accessibility APIs. Such memory corruption issues typically arise from improper object lifecycle management where references persist after memory deallocation occurs. This particular vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category for use-after-free errors and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage in exploit delivery scenarios.
The attack vector requires a remote attacker to convince a user to perform specific interactions with the browser, making this a user-interaction dependent vulnerability. The exploitation process leverages heap corruption principles where freed memory blocks are reallocated and manipulated to execute arbitrary code. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through web content or malicious websites that utilize accessibility APIs in crafted ways. The accessibility features in browsers often provide privileged access points that make them attractive targets for attackers seeking elevation of privileges or persistent access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption to potentially enable full remote code execution capabilities. When successfully exploited, an attacker could gain control over the browser process and potentially escalate privileges to the user level. The heap corruption resulting from improper memory management creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate program flow through return-oriented programming or just-in-time compilation techniques. This vulnerability affects all users running affected Chrome versions and represents a critical security risk given that accessibility features are commonly enabled and used by users with disabilities.
Mitigation strategies include immediate updating of Chrome browsers to version 98.0.4758.80 or later, which contains patches addressing the memory management issues in accessibility services. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary accessibility features when not required, using application whitelisting controls, and monitoring for suspicious browser behavior patterns. The patch typically involves proper reference counting mechanisms and ensuring that accessibility API objects are properly validated before access operations. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls to reduce the risk of exploitation through malicious websites or web-based attack vectors.