CVE-2022-1482 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/27/2022
Inappropriate implementation in WebGL 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 critical heap corruption issue within the WebGL graphics rendering component of Google Chrome browsers prior to version 101.0.4951.41. The flaw stems from improper input validation and memory management handling within the web graphics library implementation, creating an exploitable condition that could be triggered through maliciously crafted web content. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory safety issues and aligns with CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory boundaries.
The technical exploitation occurs when a remote attacker crafts a specific HTML page containing malicious WebGL operations that manipulate memory structures in unintended ways. This type of vulnerability typically involves improper handling of vertex buffer objects or shader compilation processes within the graphics processing pipeline. The heap corruption can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution, as attackers can manipulate memory layout to overwrite critical data structures or function pointers. This represents a significant concern given WebGL's widespread use across modern web applications and its integration with hardware acceleration features.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser compromise, as it could enable attackers to perform persistent attacks against users who visit malicious websites. The exploitation vector leverages the browser's rendering engine capabilities, making it particularly dangerous since legitimate web content could be used to deliver payloads. Users with older Chrome versions remain exposed even when visiting seemingly benign websites, creating a broad attack surface that could affect enterprise environments where browser updates may lag.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate browser version updates to 101.0.4951.41 or later, as this release contains the necessary patches addressing the heap corruption vulnerability. Organizations should implement network-level protections through web filters and content security policies to limit exposure to potentially malicious WebGL content. Additionally, users should be educated about avoiding untrusted websites and maintaining updated browser software. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts in their environments and consider implementing exploit prevention mechanisms such as sandboxing enhancements and memory protection features. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in graphics rendering components, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script-based execution and T1203 for exploitation of remote services through browser-based attacks.