CVE-2022-3449 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2022
Use after free in Safe Browsing in Google Chrome prior to 106.0.5249.119 allowed an attacker who convinced a user to install a malicious extension to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted Chrome Extension. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/29/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition in Google Chrome's Safe Browsing implementation that existed prior to version 106.0.5249.119. The flaw manifests within the browser's extension handling mechanism where improper memory management allows attackers to manipulate heap memory structures through malicious extensions. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser security and memory corruption, creating a pathway for remote code execution when users install compromised extensions. The Chromium security severity classification of High reflects the potential for significant system compromise, as the flaw can be exploited without user interaction beyond extension installation, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free vulnerability occurs when Chrome processes malicious extensions and manages memory allocation for Safe Browsing components. When an extension is installed and processed, the browser's memory management system fails to properly handle the deallocation and subsequent reuse of memory blocks containing Safe Browsing state information. This creates a window where attacker-controlled data can overwrite freed memory regions, leading to heap corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability specifically affects the extension installation and processing pipeline where Chrome's Safe Browsing subsystem interacts with extension metadata and security policies.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to include full system compromise when exploited successfully. Attackers can craft malicious extensions that appear legitimate to users while containing malicious payloads designed to exploit the heap corruption. The vulnerability's exploitation requires only that a user installs a malicious extension, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or supply chain attacks where attackers can distribute compromised extensions through legitimate extension stores or direct downloads. This creates a significant risk for enterprise environments where users may inadvertently install malicious extensions that can then be used to establish persistent backdoors or exfiltrate sensitive data.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including T1176 for Browser Extensions and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The attack chain typically involves initial compromise through social engineering to convince users to install malicious extensions, followed by exploitation of the heap corruption to gain code execution privileges. Organizations should implement strict extension approval policies and monitor for suspicious extension installations. The recommended mitigation includes immediate upgrade to Chrome version 106.0.5249.119 or later, which includes memory management fixes that prevent the use-after-free condition. Additionally, security teams should deploy extension monitoring tools and maintain strict policies regarding third-party extension installations to reduce attack surface.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of memory safety in browser security implementations and aligns with CWE-416 which describes use-after-free conditions. The flaw represents a classic example of how seemingly isolated memory management issues can create significant security risks in complex software systems. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by Chrome's extensive extension ecosystem and the trust users place in browser extensions, making it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors. Organizations should maintain comprehensive patch management processes and consider implementing browser hardening measures to reduce the effectiveness of such exploits even when vulnerabilities are present. The incident underscores the necessity of continuous security auditing of browser components and extension handling mechanisms to prevent similar memory corruption vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.