CVE-2022-2856 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/26/2022
Insufficient validation of untrusted input in Intents in Google Chrome on Android prior to 104.0.5112.101 allowed a remote attacker to arbitrarily browse to a malicious website via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-2856 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's handling of untrusted input within Android Intents mechanism. This issue affects Chrome versions prior to 104.0.5112.101 and stems from inadequate validation of Intent data that flows from web content to the Android operating system. The vulnerability specifically targets the Android Intent system which serves as a communication mechanism allowing applications to request actions from other apps, making it a crucial component in Android's inter-application communication framework.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the insufficient input validation within Chrome's Android Intent processing pipeline. When a user visits a malicious webpage containing crafted HTML content, the browser fails to properly validate the Intent parameters that are passed to the Android system. This allows an attacker to construct malicious Intent URLs that can trigger unintended actions within the Android environment, potentially leading to unauthorized access to system resources or applications. The flaw exists in the way Chrome parses and forwards Intent data without adequate sanitization or validation of the incoming parameters, creating a pathway for malicious input to be executed as legitimate system commands.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote code execution capabilities through web-based attacks, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently browse untrusted websites. The attack vector requires only that a user visits a malicious webpage, making it highly exploitable in phishing campaigns or compromised websites. Once exploited, the vulnerability could allow attackers to open arbitrary applications, access system resources, or potentially gain elevated privileges within the Android environment. This represents a significant threat to mobile device security as it leverages the trust model between web browsers and operating system components to bypass normal security boundaries.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and demonstrates how inadequate sanitization of user-supplied data can lead to severe security consequences. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving command and control communications and privilege escalation through system interactions. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Chrome's Intent handling is used for various legitimate purposes including deep linking, app switching, and system integration, making the exploitation potentially widespread across different application contexts. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions and implement additional network-level protections to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Chrome version 104.0.5112.101 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Network administrators should also consider implementing web filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious Intent URLs, while security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this specific vulnerability. Mobile device management solutions should enforce the latest Chrome updates and consider implementing additional browser security policies that restrict potentially dangerous Intent handling. Organizations should also conduct security awareness training to help users recognize and avoid visiting malicious websites that could exploit this vulnerability, as the attack requires user interaction through web browsing activities.