CVE-2022-3448 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2022
Use after free in Permissions API in Google Chrome prior to 106.0.5249.119 allowed a remote attacker who convinced a user to engage in specific UI gestures to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3448 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the Permissions API implementation of Google Chrome browsers. This flaw exists in versions prior to 106.0.5249.119 and constitutes a high-severity issue according to Chromium security classifications. The vulnerability arises from improper memory management within the browser's permission handling subsystem, where freed memory regions are subsequently accessed by malicious code, creating opportunities for heap corruption exploitation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a remote attacker to convince a user to perform specific user interface gestures on a crafted HTML page. This social engineering component is crucial as it demonstrates the attack vector's reliance on user interaction rather than purely automated exploitation techniques. The use-after-free condition occurs when the Permissions API fails to properly manage object lifecycles, allowing attackers to manipulate memory pointers that have already been released back to the system heap. This memory corruption can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution within the browser context.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to end users who may inadvertently encounter malicious web content. The attack requires user engagement through specific UI gestures, suggesting the exploitation pathway involves interactive web elements such as permission prompts, modal dialogs, or other user interface components that trigger the vulnerable code path. The heap corruption resulting from this flaw can enable attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the compromised browser process, potentially leading to complete system compromise depending on the execution environment and user privileges.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations. This weakness category encompasses scenarios where program code attempts to access memory after it has been freed, creating potential for information disclosure, denial of service, or arbitrary code execution. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to several ATT&CK techniques including initial access through malicious content delivery and privilege escalation via browser exploitation. The attack surface is particularly concerning given Chrome's widespread adoption and the permissions API's integration with various web platform features that users frequently interact with during normal browsing activities.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate browser updates to versions 106.0.5249.119 or later where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should implement browser hardening measures including restricted permissions policies, content security policies, and user education about suspicious web interactions. Network-based protections such as web application firewalls and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional layers of defense. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual browser behavior patterns and potential exploitation attempts targeting memory corruption vulnerabilities. Regular security assessments of web applications and user training programs should emphasize the risks associated with engaging with untrusted web content, particularly when dealing with permission-related prompts and user interface interactions that may trigger such vulnerabilities.