CVE-2022-2477 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2022
Use after free in Guest View in Google Chrome prior to 103.0.5060.134 allowed an attacker who convinced a user to install a malicious extension to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2477 represents a critical use-after-free condition affecting Google Chrome's Guest View implementation prior to version 103.0.5060.134. This flaw resides within the browser's handling of guest views which are used to embed web content within Chrome extensions and applications. The vulnerability manifests when a malicious extension is installed and subsequently triggers a crafted HTML page that exploits the improper memory management in the guest view component. The use-after-free condition occurs when memory allocated to a guest view object is freed but the application continues to reference that memory location, creating opportunities for heap corruption and potential code execution. This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration classification of CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions that occur when memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating a dangerous state where attackers can manipulate the freed memory to execute arbitrary code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser exploitation as it leverages the trust model inherent in Chrome's extension system. An attacker must first convince a user to install a malicious extension, which then serves as the initial vector for delivering the crafted HTML payload. Once executed, the heap corruption can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the Chrome process. This represents a significant escalation from a simple web browsing threat to a potential system compromise, as the attacker can leverage the extension's permissions to access sensitive user data, perform actions on behalf of the user, or establish persistent access. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1176 which covers the use of browser extensions for persistence and privilege escalation, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where browser extensions are commonly deployed.
The technical exploitation requires careful crafting of HTML content that triggers the specific memory management flaw within Chrome's guest view implementation. The heap corruption that results from this use-after-free condition can be leveraged to overwrite function pointers, control flow data, or other critical memory structures within the Chrome process. Attackers may employ various techniques to achieve code execution including return-oriented programming or just-in-time compilation exploits to bypass modern security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution protection. The vulnerability's exploitation is particularly concerning because it operates within the trusted extension environment, making it difficult to detect through traditional web-based security measures. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including mandatory Chrome updates to version 103.0.5060.134 or later, disable or audit extension installations, and implement browser hardening measures such as sandboxing enhancements and strict content security policies to prevent successful exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in browser components and highlights the need for continuous security auditing of complex web platform features that handle user-provided content.