CVE-2022-3038 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/26/2022
Use after free in Network Service in Google Chrome prior to 105.0.5195.52 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3038 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Google Chrome's Network Service component that existed prior to version 105.0.5195.52. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory locations after they have been freed, creating opportunities for malicious exploitation. The Network Service in Chrome handles network-related operations including HTTP requests, DNS resolution, and connection management, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise the browser's memory management systems. The flaw specifically manifests when processing crafted HTML pages that trigger improper memory deallocation followed by subsequent access to the freed memory region.
This vulnerability operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory condition. The technical implementation involves the browser's handling of network service objects where memory allocation occurs during page rendering and network request processing. When Chrome processes malicious HTML content that includes specific JavaScript or DOM manipulations, it can trigger a sequence where network service objects are deallocated while still being referenced by other components. The heap corruption that results from this improper memory management allows attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Chrome process. This exploitation vector is particularly dangerous because it requires only a web page to be loaded, making it highly accessible to remote attackers.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-3038 extends beyond simple browser compromise as it can enable attackers to perform privilege escalation and maintain persistent access to affected systems. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation through memory corruption. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious code that may include additional payloads, browser-based backdoors, or tools for further system compromise. The heap corruption can be exploited to overwrite critical memory structures or inject shellcode that executes with the browser's privileges, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The remote nature of the attack means that users can be compromised simply by visiting a malicious website or clicking on a link that loads the crafted HTML content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-3038 primarily focus on immediate remediation through browser updates to version 105.0.5195.52 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes. Organizations should implement proactive security measures including web filtering solutions that can block access to known malicious domains and content. Browser hardening techniques such as enabling sandboxing, disabling unnecessary browser features, and implementing strict content security policies can reduce the attack surface. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing exploit prevention mechanisms including memory protection features and runtime application control to prevent unauthorized code execution. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify systems that may still be running vulnerable versions of Chrome. The remediation process must include comprehensive testing to ensure that the update does not introduce compatibility issues with existing web applications while maintaining the security improvements that address this specific use-after-free condition.