CVE-2022-1487 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/27/2022
Use after free in Ozone in Google Chrome prior to 101.0.4951.41 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via running a Wayland test.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2022
This vulnerability represents a use-after-free condition in the ozone graphics subsystem of google chrome affecting versions prior to 101.0.4951.41. The flaw occurs within the wayland compositor integration where improper memory management allows an attacker to potentially execute arbitrary code through heap corruption techniques. The vulnerability specifically manifests when running wayland tests which trigger the problematic code path in the ozone component responsible for handling graphics rendering operations.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free involves memory allocation and deallocation patterns that create a window where freed memory can be accessed or reused before proper validation occurs. In the context of chrome's ozone framework, this affects the wayland display server integration mechanism which handles graphical operations across linux desktop environments. When the wayland test executes, it triggers code paths that manipulate shared memory objects without proper synchronization or validation mechanisms, leading to potential heap corruption.
From an operational perspective this vulnerability creates significant risk for remote attackers who can leverage it to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The attack vector specifically requires running a wayland test which suggests this could be exploited through web-based attacks or malicious applications that utilize chrome's rendering engine with wayland support. The heap corruption potential allows for privilege escalation and system compromise, making this particularly dangerous in environments where chrome is used for web browsing or application execution.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in memory management. From an attack framework perspective it maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including initial access through web-based exploitation and privilege escalation via memory corruption attacks. The wayland test execution requirement suggests this may be a complex attack that requires specific environmental conditions or user interaction to trigger successfully.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of chrome versions to 101.0.4951.41 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper memory management fixes. Organizations should also implement additional security controls such as sandboxing restrictions and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns. System administrators should disable wayland support in chrome environments until patches are applied, and network defenders should monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability through web-based attack vectors. The fix implemented by google addresses the root cause through proper memory deallocation validation and ensures that freed objects cannot be accessed or reused during the ozone graphics processing pipeline.
This vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of modern browser security where graphics subsystems present unique attack surfaces that require careful memory management practices. The integration of wayland support in chrome's ozone framework creates additional attack vectors that must be properly validated to prevent similar issues in future implementations. Security teams should maintain awareness of similar vulnerabilities in graphics rendering components and implement comprehensive testing procedures for display server integrations to prevent exploitation through heap-based memory corruption techniques.