CVE-2022-0466: Google Chrome RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2022-0466 Overview

CVE-2022-0466 is a critical vulnerability in the Extensions Platform of Google Chrome versions prior to 98.0.4758.80. The flaw stems from an inappropriate implementation that allows an attacker, who has convinced a user to install a malicious extension, to potentially perform a sandbox escape through a crafted HTML page. A successful sandbox escape breaks the security boundary that isolates browser processes from the underlying operating system. Google addressed the issue in the Stable Channel desktop update released in February 2022.

Critical Impact

An attacker leveraging a malicious extension can escape the Chrome sandbox via a crafted HTML page, gaining the ability to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability across the host environment.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome desktop versions prior to 98.0.4758.80
• Chromium-based browsers inheriting the vulnerable Extensions Platform implementation
• All operating systems supported by the affected Chrome release (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Discovery Timeline

• 2022-04-05 - CVE-2022-0466 published to the National Vulnerability Database
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-0466

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the Chrome Extensions Platform, the subsystem responsible for loading, isolating, and executing browser extensions. An inappropriate implementation in this platform creates a condition where a malicious extension can interact with a crafted HTML page in a manner not anticipated by the security model. The interaction enables the attacker to break out of the renderer or extension process sandbox.

The Chrome sandbox restricts what an extension or renderer can do on the host system. Escaping it allows code to run with the privileges of the browser process rather than the restricted child process. Exploitation requires user interaction to install the malicious extension, but no further privileges. The scope changes after exploitation, meaning the impact extends beyond the originally compromised component.

Root Cause

Google classifies the root cause as an inappropriate implementation within the Extensions Platform. The underlying defect is tracked in Chromium issue crbug.com/1115460, with the fix shipped in the Chrome 98 stable release. The CWE classification is recorded as NVD-CWE-noinfo, indicating that public NVD data does not disclose a specific weakness category.

Attack Vector

An attacker first persuades the user to install a malicious Chrome extension, typically through social engineering or a compromised distribution channel. Once installed, the extension loads a crafted HTML page that triggers the flawed interaction with the Extensions Platform. The combined behavior of the extension and the HTML payload defeats the sandbox boundaries that normally isolate extension code from the host.

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network because the crafted HTML page can be served remotely. No authentication is required, but user interaction is necessary to complete the extension installation. Successful exploitation yields high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available for this issue. See the Chromium Bug Report #1115460 and the Google Chrome Stable Update for additional technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-0466

Indicators of Compromise

• Chrome browser versions reporting a build below 98.0.4758.80 in enterprise inventory data
• Unexpected or unsigned extensions appearing in the Extensions directory of Chrome user profiles
• Child processes spawned by chrome.exe that execute outside the typical sandboxed renderer hierarchy
• Outbound network connections from Chrome extension processes to uncategorized or newly registered domains

Detection Strategies

• Inventory installed Chrome extensions across the fleet and compare extension IDs against an organization-approved allowlist
• Monitor process lineage to flag anomalous child processes parented to the Chrome browser or renderer processes
• Correlate web traffic to extension update endpoints with installation events to identify side-loaded or non-Web Store extensions
• Hunt for endpoints running outdated Chrome builds using vulnerability management or endpoint telemetry sources

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable enterprise extension reporting through Chrome Browser Cloud Management to capture installation, update, and removal events
• Aggregate browser telemetry into a centralized data lake for retrospective hunting across extension behavior
• Alert on Chrome processes performing file system writes outside expected user-profile and cache directories
• Track Chrome version compliance as a continuous metric and trigger alerts when endpoints drift below the patched baseline

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-0466

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Chrome to version 98.0.4758.80 or later on all desktop endpoints, including managed and BYOD devices
• Audit installed extensions and remove any that are unsigned, side-loaded, or not present on the organizational allowlist
• Enforce Chrome auto-update through enterprise policy to prevent endpoints from regressing to vulnerable builds
• Restrict extension installation to a managed allowlist using the ExtensionInstallAllowlist and ExtensionInstallBlocklist policies

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the Chrome Stable Channel update documented in the Google Chrome Stable Update advisory. Upgrading to Chrome 98.0.4758.80 or any later release remediates CVE-2022-0466. The underlying code change is tracked in Chromium Bug Report #1115460.

Workarounds

• Block installation of all extensions outside an explicit corporate allowlist using Chrome enterprise policies
• Disable installation of extensions from sources other than the Chrome Web Store for users who require third-party extensions
• Deploy least-privilege user accounts so that any post-exploitation activity following a sandbox escape executes with minimal local rights
• Apply network egress filtering on endpoints to limit communication from compromised browser processes to attacker-controlled infrastructure

# Configuration example: Chrome enterprise policy to restrict extensions (Linux managed policy)
sudo mkdir -p /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed
cat <<'EOF' | sudo tee /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed/extension_controls.json
{
  "ExtensionInstallBlocklist": ["*"],
  "ExtensionInstallAllowlist": [
    "<approved-extension-id-1>",
    "<approved-extension-id-2>"
  ],
  "ExtensionInstallSources": [
    "https://clients2.google.com/service/update2/crx"
  ]
}
EOF