CVE-2022-2162: Google Chrome File System Bypass Vulnerability

CVE-2022-2162 Overview

CVE-2022-2162 is an insufficient policy enforcement vulnerability in the File System API of Google Chrome on Windows. This security flaw exists in versions prior to 103.0.5060.53 and allows a remote attacker to bypass file system access restrictions through a specially crafted HTML page. The vulnerability represents a significant security boundary bypass that could enable attackers to interact with the local file system in unauthorized ways.

Critical Impact

Remote attackers can bypass file system access controls via malicious web pages, potentially leading to unauthorized file operations, data exfiltration, or further system compromise when users visit attacker-controlled websites.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome (versions prior to 103.0.5060.53) on Windows
• Microsoft Windows (as the affected platform)
• Fedora 35 and Fedora 36 (via Chrome package)

Discovery Timeline

• 2022-07-28 - CVE-2022-2162 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-2162

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability stems from insufficient policy enforcement in Chrome's File System API implementation on Windows. The File System API is designed to provide web applications with controlled access to the local file system, but requires strict security policies to prevent unauthorized access. In affected versions, the policy enforcement mechanism fails to properly validate or restrict certain file system operations, creating a security gap that attackers can exploit.

The attack requires user interaction, specifically the victim must visit a malicious webpage containing the crafted HTML payload. Once triggered, the vulnerability allows the attacker to bypass the intended file system access restrictions that Chrome normally enforces to protect users from malicious web content.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2022-2162 lies in the inadequate implementation of security policies governing the File System API in Google Chrome on Windows. The policy enforcement logic failed to properly validate or restrict file system access requests, allowing specially crafted HTML pages to circumvent the browser's security sandbox protections related to file system operations.

Attack Vector

The attack is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker would need to:

1. Create a malicious HTML page containing a crafted payload targeting the File System API vulnerability
2. Lure a victim to visit the attacker-controlled webpage (via phishing, compromised sites, or malicious advertisements)
3. When the page loads in a vulnerable Chrome browser on Windows, the crafted content triggers the policy bypass
4. The attacker gains unauthorized file system access, bypassing Chrome's normal security restrictions

The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the target system. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized reading or modification of files, or denial of service conditions.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-2162

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual file system operations initiated from the Chrome browser process
• Web pages containing suspicious File System API calls or obfuscated JavaScript targeting file operations
• Chrome process accessing unexpected file system locations outside normal browser data directories
• Anomalous network traffic to known malicious domains followed by file system activity

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Chrome process behavior for unusual file system access patterns that deviate from normal browsing activity
• Implement web filtering and URL categorization to block access to known malicious sites
• Deploy browser security extensions that can detect and block suspicious File System API usage
• Utilize endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify exploitation attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable Chrome browser logging and audit file system access events on Windows endpoints
• Configure security information and event management (SIEM) rules to correlate browser process activity with file system operations
• Monitor for Chrome versions below 103.0.5060.53 across the enterprise and flag for immediate updates
• Implement network-based detection for malicious HTML content targeting browser vulnerabilities

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-2162

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 103.0.5060.53 or later immediately across all Windows systems
• Enable automatic updates for Chrome to ensure timely security patch deployment
• Educate users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and clicking suspicious links
• Review browser policies and consider restricting File System API access where not required

Patch Information

Google has released a security update addressing this vulnerability in Chrome version 103.0.5060.53. The fix was announced in the Chrome Desktop Update Blog on June 21, 2022. Additional technical details can be found in Chrome Bug Report #1307930.

Linux distributions have also released patches:

• Fedora Package Announcement for Fedora 35/36
• Gentoo GLSA 202208-25

Workarounds

• If immediate patching is not possible, consider using an alternative browser temporarily on critical systems
• Implement network-level blocking of known malicious websites and suspicious domains
• Use browser isolation technology to contain potential exploitation attempts
• Restrict user browsing to trusted websites only through proxy filtering until patches can be applied

# Verify Chrome version on Windows (PowerShell)
(Get-Item "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe").VersionInfo.ProductVersion

# Force Chrome update via command line
"C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --check-for-update-interval=1