CVE-2022-2478 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2022
Use after free in PDF in Google Chrome prior to 103.0.5060.134 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in Google Chrome's PDF rendering component that existed prior to version 103.0.5060.134. The flaw occurs when the browser processes maliciously crafted HTML pages that contain embedded PDF content, creating a scenario where memory previously allocated to PDF objects is freed but subsequently accessed by the browser's rendering engine. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, specifically addressing use-after-free errors that arise from improper memory management practices. The technical implementation involves Chrome's handling of PDF objects within HTML contexts where the garbage collector or memory deallocation mechanism fails to properly track object references, allowing attackers to manipulate memory pointers that should have been invalidated.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides remote attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. When exploited, the heap corruption can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory structures, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise. Attackers can craft HTML pages containing malicious PDF content that, when opened in Chrome, triggers the vulnerable code path. This vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain system access, and demonstrates how web-based attacks can leverage browser rendering engines as attack surfaces. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that users can be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios.
The exploitation process typically involves creating a specific sequence of PDF object operations that cause the browser to free memory while maintaining references to it, subsequently allowing an attacker to control what gets written to that memory location. This type of heap corruption can be particularly challenging to detect and prevent because it occurs within the browser's memory management system, often requiring sophisticated exploitation techniques to achieve reliable code execution. Security researchers have noted that such vulnerabilities are particularly concerning in browser environments where the attack surface is vast and users frequently interact with untrusted content. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw makes it a high-priority target for threat actors seeking to compromise user systems without requiring physical access or user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability as it represents a significant risk to user security and system integrity, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted web content.