CVE-2022-2481 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2022
Use after free in Views in Google Chrome prior to 103.0.5060.134 allowed a remote attacker who convinced a user to engage in specific user interactions to potentially exploit heap corruption via UI interaction.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2481 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the Views component of Google Chrome browser versions prior to 103.0.5060.134. This flaw resides in the browser's user interface rendering system where improper memory management allows attackers to manipulate heap corruption through carefully crafted user interactions. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory safety and user interface components, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited remotely without requiring local system access. The affected Views framework handles various UI elements and interactions, creating multiple potential attack vectors that could be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of object references within the Views system where freed memory blocks are still being accessed or referenced by subsequent operations. When a user interacts with specific UI elements, the browser's memory management system fails to properly invalidate object pointers, creating a window where attacker-controlled data can be written to previously freed memory locations. This memory corruption can manifest through various UI interaction patterns, including mouse movements, clicks, or keyboard inputs that trigger the vulnerable code path. The flaw is categorized under CWE-416 as a use-after-free vulnerability, which represents one of the most prevalent and dangerous classes of memory safety issues in modern software systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-2481 extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides attackers with potential pathways to execute arbitrary code within the browser environment. Remote exploitation requires social engineering to convince users to perform specific interactions, but once triggered, the vulnerability can lead to complete browser compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to escalate privileges, access sensitive user data, or redirect browser sessions to malicious sites. The vulnerability's exploitation aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution, as successful exploitation typically results in code execution capabilities within the browser's security context. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where users frequently interact with web content, as the attack surface expands with each user interaction that could trigger the vulnerable code path.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-2481 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 103.0.5060.134 and later, which contain the necessary patches to address the memory management issues within the Views framework. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all browser installations are updated promptly, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without user awareness. Additional protective measures include enabling browser security features such as sandboxing and content security policies, which can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should focus on unusual browser behavior patterns, memory allocation anomalies, and unexpected UI interaction sequences that could indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a heap corruption issue makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation through techniques such as return-oriented programming or just-in-time compilation attacks, further emphasizing the importance of timely patch deployment and layered defensive measures.