CVE-2022-1489 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/27/2022
Out of bounds memory access in UI Shelf in Google Chrome on Chrome OS, Lacros prior to 101.0.4951.41 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via specific user interactions.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds memory access flaw within the UI Shelf component of Google Chrome running on Chrome OS and Lacros environments. The issue manifests as a heap corruption vulnerability that can be exploited by remote attackers through carefully crafted user interactions, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or system compromise. The vulnerability specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 101.0.4951.41 where the UI Shelf functionality fails to properly validate memory boundaries during certain interaction scenarios.
The technical root cause stems from inadequate input validation within the UI Shelf component's memory management routines, allowing attackers to manipulate heap allocations through malicious user interactions that trigger buffer overflow conditions. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read errors in memory management. The flaw demonstrates characteristics consistent with heap-based buffer overflows where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory regions, potentially corrupting program execution flow or sensitive data structures.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for Chrome OS users who may inadvertently trigger the exploit through normal browsing activities or specific interaction patterns within the UI Shelf interface. The remote exploitation capability means attackers do not require physical access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where Chrome OS devices are prevalent. The vulnerability could enable attackers to escalate privileges, execute malicious code with the privileges of the Chrome process, or potentially gain broader system access depending on the execution context and attack vector employed.
The exploitation scenario typically involves an attacker crafting specific user interactions that cause the UI Shelf component to process malformed input data, leading to heap corruption during memory allocation operations. This class of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation may involve code injection or privilege escalation activities. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment to mitigate this risk, particularly in environments where Chrome OS devices are used for sensitive operations or contain critical data assets.
Security teams should monitor for potential indicators of compromise related to unusual memory access patterns or unexpected process behavior on affected systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust memory safety practices in modern web browsers and highlights the need for comprehensive input validation across all UI components. Regular security assessments of browser environments, including Chrome OS deployments, should include checks for similar heap corruption vulnerabilities that could provide attackers with persistent access to target systems through the browser attack surface.