CVE-2022-3450 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2022
Use after free in Peer Connection in Google Chrome prior to 106.0.5249.119 allowed a remote attacker 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-2022-3450 represents a critical use-after-free condition within Google Chrome's peer connection implementation, specifically affecting versions prior to 106.0.5249.119. This flaw resides in the WebRTC peer connection handling mechanism that manages real-time communication between browsers and external peers. The issue stems from improper memory management where freed memory blocks are still referenced or accessed by subsequent operations within the peer connection lifecycle. The vulnerability manifests when a maliciously crafted HTML page triggers specific WebRTC operations that lead to memory deallocation followed by unauthorized access to the same memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions where program memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating potential exploitation vectors for remote attackers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides a remote attacker with the capability to execute arbitrary code within the context of the Chrome browser process. The heap corruption resulting from the use-after-free condition can be leveraged to manipulate program execution flow, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Attackers can craft HTML pages that, when loaded in a victim's browser, trigger the vulnerable peer connection code path, causing memory deallocation followed by access to freed memory regions. This exploitation technique aligns with ATT&CK framework tactic TA0040 (Defense Evasion) and technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript), as it utilizes browser-based scripting to execute malicious operations. The high severity classification reflects the potential for remote code execution and the relatively straightforward exploitation method that does not require user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-3450 primarily focus on immediate remediation through browser updates to version 106.0.5249.119 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory management flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly, particularly in environments where users may be exposed to untrusted web content. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious HTML content, deploying browser security extensions that restrict WebRTC functionality, and establishing network monitoring to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's nature makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently visit compromised websites, making proactive security measures essential. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms and privilege separation to limit potential damage if exploitation occurs, while maintaining regular security assessments to identify similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in other browser components or web technologies.