CVE-2022-1478 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/27/2022
Use after free in SwiftShader in Google Chrome prior to 101.0.4951.41 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2022
This vulnerability represents a use-after-free condition in SwiftShader, a software-based graphics rendering library that serves as a fallback implementation for graphics processing when hardware acceleration is unavailable or unsupported. The flaw existed in Google Chrome versions prior to 101.0.4951.41 and could be exploited by remote attackers through maliciously crafted HTML web pages. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management where SwiftShader fails to properly track object lifetimes, allowing freed memory regions to be accessed after they have been deallocated. This particular issue manifests as heap corruption during graphics rendering operations, which can lead to arbitrary code execution when the corrupted memory is subsequently accessed. The technical implementation involves scenarios where SwiftShader's graphics objects are destroyed but references to them persist within the browser's rendering pipeline, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute malicious instructions. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free errors in software implementations. From an operational perspective, the attack surface expands significantly since any web page can potentially trigger this condition through JavaScript APIs or WebGL graphics calls that utilize SwiftShader's software rendering path. The exploitation requires a victim to visit a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through drive-by download scenarios or compromised advertising networks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage browser vulnerabilities to execute code in the context of the user's browser session. The impact extends beyond simple memory corruption as attackers can potentially escalate privileges and gain full control over the affected system. Organizations should immediately update Chrome installations to version 101.0.4951.41 or later, which includes patches addressing this heap corruption vulnerability. Additional mitigations include enabling Chrome's sandboxing features, restricting web content access through network policies, and implementing browser security controls such as Content Security Policy headers. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in graphics libraries and highlights how software fallback mechanisms can introduce unexpected security risks when not properly validated against common exploitation patterns.