CVE-2022-0791 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE • 04/05/2022
Use after free in Omnibox in Google Chrome prior to 99.0.4844.51 allowed a remote attacker who convinced a user to engage in specific user interactions to potentially exploit heap corruption via user interactions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2026
This vulnerability represents a use-after-free condition in the Omnibox component of Google Chrome, specifically affecting versions prior to 99.0.4844.51. The flaw occurs when the browser processes user interactions with the address bar, creating a scenario where memory allocated to an object is freed while still being referenced by other components. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free errors in software implementations. Such memory corruption issues are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause application crashes that may lead to further exploitation.
The attack vector requires a remote attacker to convince a user to perform specific interactions with the browser interface, typically involving navigation or input manipulation through the Omnibox component. When a user engages with the address bar in a manner that triggers the vulnerable code path, the browser's memory management system fails to properly track object references, resulting in freed memory being accessed by subsequent operations. This particular vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain access to system resources and potentially execute malicious code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it can enable attackers to perform heap corruption that may lead to arbitrary code execution. The heap corruption occurs when the freed memory object is reused by the application's memory allocator, but the application's code continues to reference the freed memory location. This creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the application's behavior by controlling the contents of the freed memory or by forcing the allocator to return memory that has been corrupted. The vulnerability affects all users running affected Chrome versions and represents a critical security risk that could be leveraged for privilege escalation or system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate patching of Chrome installations to versions 99.0.4844.51 or later where the memory management issue has been addressed. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Additionally, browser hardening measures such as enabling sandboxing features and restricting user interactions with potentially vulnerable components can provide additional defense layers. The fix implemented by Google likely involves proper memory reference tracking and ensuring that freed objects are not accessed, which aligns with standard secure coding practices recommended by the Open Web Application Security Project and other security frameworks. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement network-based detection measures that can identify suspicious user interaction patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts against this vulnerability.