CVE-2022-0605 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 04/05/2022
Use after free in Webstore API in Google Chrome prior to 98.0.4758.102 allowed an attacker who convinced a user to install a malicious extension and convinced a user to enage in specific user interaction to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/05/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition within the Webstore API of Google Chrome, specifically affecting versions prior to 98.0.4758.102. The flaw occurs when an attacker can manipulate the extension installation process and subsequently trigger memory corruption through carefully crafted HTML content. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management where freed memory locations are still referenced after the associated object has been deallocated, creating opportunities for arbitrary code execution. This issue falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which is a well-documented class of vulnerabilities that frequently leads to remote code execution in browser environments.
The attack vector requires a sophisticated social engineering component where an attacker must first convince a user to install a malicious extension from the Chrome Web Store. This initial compromise is followed by诱导 user interaction with a specially crafted HTML page that triggers the memory corruption vulnerability. The exploitation process leverages the fact that Chrome's Webstore API does not properly validate or sanitize memory references during extension lifecycle management, particularly when handling uninstallation and subsequent access to previously allocated memory blocks. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter and T1566 for phishing, combining both user manipulation and code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it could potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Chrome browser process. This creates a significant risk for users who may inadvertently install malicious extensions or visit compromised websites. The heap corruption can be exploited to overwrite critical memory structures, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise depending on the execution environment and user permissions. Security researchers have noted that such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in browser contexts due to the extensive privileges browsers possess and their frequent interaction with sensitive user data.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of Chrome installations to version 98.0.4758.102 or later, where Google has implemented proper memory management safeguards for the Webstore API. Organizations should also implement strict extension installation policies, limiting users to trusted sources only, and deploy security solutions that can detect and prevent exploitation attempts. Browser hardening measures including sandboxing enforcement and strict content security policies can further reduce the risk surface. Users should be educated about the dangers of installing extensions from untrusted sources and the importance of recognizing social engineering attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the ongoing challenge in browser security where complex APIs like Webstore interfaces require rigorous memory management validation to prevent exploitation through use-after-free conditions, making it essential for vendors to maintain continuous security monitoring and timely patch deployment.