CVE-2022-3050 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/26/2022
Heap buffer overflow in WebUI in Google Chrome on Chrome OS prior to 105.0.5195.52 allowed a remote attacker who convinced a user to engage in specific UI interactions to potentially exploit heap corruption via crafted UI interactions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2025
This heap buffer overflow vulnerability exists within the WebUI component of Google Chrome running on Chrome OS systems before version 105.0.5195.52. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that occurs when processing specific user interface interactions, representing a critical security weakness that could be exploited remotely. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category of CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, which occurs when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of a heap-allocated buffer. The attack vector requires a remote attacker to convince a user to perform specific UI interactions, making this a user-interaction-based exploit that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of web browsers. The vulnerability specifically targets the WebUI framework that handles user interface elements and interactions within the Chrome browser environment, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Chrome process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper bounds checking within the heap memory management of Chrome's WebUI system. When legitimate UI interactions are crafted in a specific manner, the application fails to validate buffer boundaries before writing data to allocated memory regions, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution. The heap-based nature of the vulnerability means that attackers can potentially overwrite adjacent memory locations, corrupting critical data structures or executable code. This type of memory corruption vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can lead to complete system compromise when exploited successfully. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and memory management practices that violate secure coding principles and standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and CERT Secure Coding Standards.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it enables remote code execution capabilities that could allow attackers to gain full control over affected Chrome OS devices. Attackers could potentially use this vulnerability to install malware, steal sensitive user data, or establish persistent access to target systems. The fact that exploitation requires user interaction makes this vulnerability somewhat less likely to be exploited at scale, but still represents a significant risk to organizations using affected Chrome OS versions. The vulnerability affects the entire Chrome OS ecosystem, including Chromebooks and other devices running the affected browser versions, making it a widespread concern for enterprises and individual users alike.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate remediation through software updates to Chrome OS version 105.0.5195.52 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the heap buffer overflow issue. Organizations should implement proactive patch management policies to ensure all Chrome OS devices receive security updates promptly. Additional defensive measures include network monitoring for suspicious UI interaction patterns and user behavior analytics that could detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing browser hardening techniques such as sandboxing, memory protection mechanisms, and privilege separation to limit the potential impact if exploitation were to occur. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and continuous monitoring of browser components, as WebUI frameworks often represent attack surfaces that require careful security review and testing.