CVE-2022-1305 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/25/2022
Use after free in storage in Google Chrome prior to 100.0.4896.88 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/25/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in the storage subsystem of Google Chrome browser versions prior to 100.0.4896.88. The issue stems from improper memory management where freed memory blocks are still referenced or accessed by subsequent operations, creating potential avenues for heap corruption attacks. Such vulnerabilities typically arise when the application fails to properly track object lifecycles and maintain consistent memory state throughout execution. The specific context involves Chrome's storage handling mechanisms which manage various data persistence features including local storage, session storage, and IndexedDB databases. When malicious HTML content triggers improper cleanup of storage objects, the browser may attempt to access already deallocated memory regions, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates how a remote attacker can craft malicious web pages that exploit race conditions or improper reference counting in Chrome's storage APIs. The flaw likely occurs during asynchronous operations where storage objects are freed while still being referenced by callbacks or event handlers, creating a window where memory access violations can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and represents a common class of heap-based memory corruption issues that have plagued web browsers for years. The exploitation mechanism typically involves spraying memory pools to control freed memory contents or using the corruption to overwrite function pointers, vtables, or other critical data structures within the browser's memory layout.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption as it provides attackers with a potential path to achieve remote code execution in the context of the Chrome browser. Given that Chrome operates with significant privileges and has access to user data through various storage mechanisms, successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise. The remote nature of the attack means users need only visit a malicious webpage to be vulnerable, making this particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to bypass modern security mitigations such as ASLR, DEP, and stack canaries by carefully crafting payloads that exploit the heap layout and memory corruption patterns specific to Chrome's implementation. This vulnerability affects all operating systems where the affected Chrome versions are deployed including Windows, macOS, Linux, and mobile platforms.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Chrome browser installations to version 100.0.4896.88 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes and proper reference tracking mechanisms. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including enabling sandboxing features, restricting storage access permissions, and deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious content. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems looking for anomalous memory access patterns or exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about avoiding untrusted websites and maintaining updated browser versions. The underlying security principles involved here align with ATT&CK technique T1059 which covers command and control communication, and T1203 which addresses legitimate credentials for exploitation. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should include memory corruption testing to identify similar issues in other browser components or web applications that may be susceptible to similar heap-based vulnerabilities.