CVE-2022-2011 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2022
Use after free in ANGLE in Google Chrome prior to 102.0.5005.115 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition within the ANGLE graphics library component that forms part of Google Chrome's rendering architecture. The flaw exists in the way ANGLE handles memory management during graphics processing operations, specifically when dealing with object references that are freed from memory but subsequently accessed by malicious code. The vulnerability manifests when a crafted HTML page triggers improper memory deallocation followed by subsequent access to the freed memory region, creating conditions for heap corruption that could be exploited by remote attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate reference counting and memory management controls within ANGLE's graphics processing pipeline. When Chrome processes complex web content involving WebGL or other graphics-intensive features, the underlying ANGLE library manages GPU resources through object-oriented memory structures. The use-after-free occurs when an object reference is invalidated during normal operation but the application continues to access that memory location, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate the freed memory contents and execute arbitrary code. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software memory management.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution capabilities, as it provides attackers with a pathway to escalate privileges within the victim's browser environment. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in Chrome, trigger the specific memory corruption sequence leading to arbitrary code execution. The exploitability is enhanced by the fact that this vulnerability affects the core graphics processing components that are frequently utilized during normal web browsing operations, making it particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 which involves executing malicious code through browser-based attacks.
The remediation strategy requires immediate patching of Chrome to version 102.0.5005.115 or later, where Google has implemented proper memory management controls and reference counting mechanisms within the ANGLE library. Additional mitigations include enabling Chrome's built-in security features such as sandboxing, strict memory access controls, and disabling unnecessary graphics features when not required for specific browsing tasks. Organizations should also implement network-level protections through web application firewalls and content filtering systems to prevent access to known malicious domains that may host exploit code targeting this vulnerability. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper memory lifecycle management and ensuring objects are not accessed after deallocation, thereby preventing the heap corruption conditions that enable exploitation.