CVE-2022-3055 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/26/2022
Use after free in Passwords in Google Chrome 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 a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/22/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3055 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome's password management functionality that existed prior to version 105.0.5195.52. This issue falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, where memory that has been deallocated is still referenced by the application, creating a potential avenue for heap corruption. The vulnerability specifically affects the browser's handling of password-related data structures during certain user interactions, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a remote attacker to convince a user to perform specific UI interactions on a maliciously crafted HTML page. This attack vector demonstrates the classic characteristics of a browser-based exploit where social engineering plays a crucial role in successful compromise. The use-after-free condition occurs when Chrome's password handling code releases memory associated with password objects but continues to reference that memory during subsequent operations, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate heap contents and execute arbitrary code.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to user security as it allows remote code execution through browser-based attacks. The attack requires user interaction, which means it cannot be exploited automatically but rather needs a victim to perform specific actions on a malicious webpage. This makes it particularly concerning in environments where users may encounter phishing campaigns or malicious websites that could trigger the vulnerable code path. The vulnerability affects the core browser functionality and could potentially lead to complete system compromise if exploited successfully.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2022-3055 primarily involves updating to Google Chrome version 105.0.5195.52 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the use-after-free condition. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of this security update across all affected systems. Additionally, implementing browser hardening measures such as enabling sandboxing features, restricting user permissions, and maintaining updated security policies can provide additional defense layers. Security teams should monitor for any exploitation attempts and consider network-based detection measures to identify potential attacks targeting this vulnerability. The remediation process should also include user education to reduce the risk of successful social engineering attacks that could lead to exploitation of this browser-based vulnerability.