CVE-2022-4924 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/29/2023
Use after free in WebRTC in Google Chrome prior to 97.0.4692.71 allowed a remote attacker who had compromised the renderer process to potentially perform a sandbox escape via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: High)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2023
The vulnerability CVE-2022-4924 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in the WebRTC implementation within Google Chrome browsers prior to version 97.0.4692.71. This issue resides within the browser's rendering engine and specifically affects the WebRTC component responsible for handling real-time communication protocols. The vulnerability classification as high severity by Chromium security team underscores its potential for significant exploitation, particularly when an attacker has already compromised the renderer process through separate means.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the WebRTC subsystem where a freed memory location is subsequently accessed by the application. This use-after-free condition occurs when the WebRTC implementation fails to properly track memory references during the processing of WebRTC signaling messages or media stream handling. When a crafted HTML page triggers specific WebRTC operations, the memory allocated for WebRTC objects becomes freed but the application continues to reference this memory, leading to potential code execution. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged for sandbox escape attacks, allowing an attacker to bypass the browser's security boundaries.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-4924 extends beyond typical remote code execution scenarios as it enables attackers to perform sandbox escapes, which fundamentally undermines the browser's security architecture. When an attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability, they can potentially gain access to system resources that should remain isolated within the browser's sandboxed environment. This capability allows for privilege escalation, information disclosure, and further system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the attacker to first compromise the renderer process, which is often achieved through other means such as drive-by downloads or social engineering attacks, but once achieved, the use-after-free condition provides a direct path to bypassing the browser's security model.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with techniques found in the attack tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and control communications and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to prevent exploitation. The recommended mitigation involves upgrading to Chrome version 97.0.4692.71 or later, which includes memory management fixes that prevent the use-after-free condition. Additionally, implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional defense layers, though these measures are not substitutes for the required software updates. Security teams should also monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems that can identify malicious WebRTC traffic patterns associated with this vulnerability.