CVE-2022-3304 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE • 11/01/2022
Use after free in CSS in Google Chrome prior to 106.0.5249.62 allowed a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chrome security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in Google Chrome's CSS rendering engine that could enable remote code execution through malicious web pages. The flaw occurs when the browser processes crafted HTML content containing specific CSS properties that trigger improper memory management during the rendering process. The vulnerability stems from inadequate memory deallocation handling within the browser's layout engine where freed memory blocks are still referenced after being released, creating opportunities for heap corruption attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the interaction between Chrome's CSS parser and its memory management system during page rendering operations. When processing malicious CSS constructs, the browser's rendering engine may free memory associated with CSS objects while simultaneously attempting to access those same memory locations, leading to undefined behavior and potential exploitation. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software applications. The memory corruption occurs at the heap level where freed memory chunks are overwritten with attacker-controlled data, potentially allowing for arbitrary code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to Chrome users as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The attack vector leverages the browser's legitimate CSS processing capabilities to create a controlled environment for heap manipulation, making detection and prevention particularly challenging. Security researchers have identified that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which involves the use of scripting languages to execute malicious code, and T1595.001 which covers network boundary compromise through web application attacks.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption as it can potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges and gain full control over affected systems. The heap corruption can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory structures, redirect execution flow, or inject malicious code into the browser process. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions as the vulnerability exists in the browser's core rendering functionality and affects all operating systems where Chrome is installed. The severity classification as High by Chrome security team reflects the potential for remote code execution and the ease with which attackers can craft exploit code for this memory corruption vulnerability. Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Chrome version 106.0.5249.62 or later, implementation of web application firewalls, and monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.