CVE-2022-3887 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 11/09/2022
Use after free in Web Workers in Google Chrome prior to 107.0.5304.106 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 • 04/28/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-3887 represents a critical use-after-free condition within Google Chrome's Web Workers implementation, affecting versions prior to 107.0.5304.106. This flaw resides in the browser's handling of concurrent execution threads through the web workers API, which allows web content to run scripts in background threads separate from the main execution thread. The issue manifests when a web worker object is freed from memory while references to it still exist, creating a scenario where subsequent access to the freed memory location could result in unpredictable behavior. The vulnerability is classified as high severity by Chromium security standards, indicating significant potential for exploitation in real-world scenarios.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the web workers subsystem where the browser fails to properly track references to worker objects during their lifecycle. When a web worker is terminated or destroyed, the underlying memory structures may be deallocated while JavaScript code continues to reference the now-invalid object. This creates a classic use-after-free scenario where an attacker could potentially control the contents of the freed memory location through carefully crafted input. The flaw specifically affects the interaction between the main thread and worker threads, particularly when worker objects are manipulated through methods like postMessage, terminate, or when worker lifecycle events occur. The heap corruption that results from this condition can potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on the target system.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-3887 extends beyond simple browser instability, presenting a substantial risk for remote code execution attacks. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by hosting malicious HTML content that triggers the problematic code path through web workers, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The attack surface is broad as any website could potentially serve the malicious payload, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability for users who browse the web without additional security mitigations. The use-after-free condition creates opportunities for memory corruption that could be chained with other exploits, potentially bypassing modern security protections like ASLR, DEP, and stack canaries. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-416 which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting languages and T1203 for exploitation for execution, demonstrating the multi-faceted nature of the threat.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-3887 primarily involve immediate browser updates to versions 107.0.5304.106 or later where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all user devices are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies that restrict web worker usage, deploying web application firewalls, and utilizing sandboxing technologies that limit the potential impact of exploitation. Network-level protections such as DNS filtering and browser hardening configurations can provide additional defense in depth. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through threat intelligence feeds and implement proper incident response procedures. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining current browser versions and implementing robust security practices in web environments.