CVE-2022-3655 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 11/02/2022
Heap buffer overflow in Media Galleries in Google Chrome prior to 107.0.5304.62 allowed an attacker who convinced a user to install a malicious extension to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2026
This vulnerability represents a heap buffer overflow condition within Google Chrome's Media Galleries functionality that existed in versions prior to 107.0.5304.62. The flaw occurs when processing media content through the browser's gallery features and can be triggered through maliciously crafted HTML pages. The vulnerability is classified as a medium severity issue by Chromium security standards, indicating it poses a moderate risk to user systems. The attack vector requires social engineering to convince a user to install a malicious extension, which then serves as a delivery mechanism for the exploit. This approach leverages the extension's permissions to execute malicious code within the browser context, demonstrating the importance of extension vetting and user awareness in preventing such attacks.
The technical implementation of this heap buffer overflow stems from inadequate bounds checking within the Media Galleries component of Chrome's rendering engine. When processing media files through the gallery interface, the application fails to properly validate the size and boundaries of heap-allocated memory regions. This allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated buffer space, potentially corrupting adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability manifests specifically when handling media content that has been crafted to exceed expected buffer limits, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited for arbitrary code execution. The flaw is categorized under CWE-121 as a heap-based buffer overflow, which represents a common class of memory safety issues that can lead to privilege escalation and system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser exploitation to encompass potential system-wide compromise. When successfully exploited, the heap corruption can be leveraged to execute malicious code with the privileges of the browser process, potentially allowing attackers to access user data, install additional malware, or establish persistence mechanisms. The requirement for a malicious extension installation creates an additional attack surface that aligns with the ATT&CK framework's technique T1176 for "Browser Extensions") where adversaries establish persistence through legitimate browser extension mechanisms. Users who install extensions from untrusted sources become particularly vulnerable, as the malicious extension can then serve as a foothold for the heap overflow exploit. The medium severity classification suggests that while the vulnerability requires user interaction, it can lead to significant compromise when successfully exploited.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus on immediate patching and user education. Organizations should prioritize updating Chrome to version 107.0.5304.62 or later to eliminate the heap buffer overflow vulnerability. Users should avoid installing extensions from untrusted sources and maintain awareness of social engineering tactics used to convince them to install malicious software. Browser security configurations should include extension whitelisting where possible, and administrators should implement security policies that restrict extension installation capabilities. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security updates and maintaining current software versions to protect against known exploits. Additional defensive measures include network monitoring for suspicious extension behavior and implementing browser hardening techniques that limit the attack surface available to potential exploit code. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to malicious extension installations and heap corruption attempts in their environments.