CVE-2022-2294: Google Chrome Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2022-2294 Overview

CVE-2022-2294 is a heap buffer overflow vulnerability in the WebRTC component of Google Chrome prior to version 103.0.5060.114. This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. The flaw exists in the WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communication) implementation, which is used for audio/video communication and data sharing between browsers.

Critical Impact

This vulnerability is actively exploited in the wild and has been added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. Successful exploitation enables remote code execution through heap corruption, potentially allowing attackers to gain control of affected systems.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome prior to 103.0.5060.114
• Apple iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS (via WebKit)
• WebKitGTK and WPE WebKit
• Fedora 35 and 36, EPEL 8
• WebRTC Project WebRTC

Discovery Timeline

• July 28, 2022 - CVE-2022-2294 published to NVD
• October 24, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-2294

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write). The heap buffer overflow occurs within the WebRTC component, which handles real-time communication features in web browsers. When processing specially crafted content, the vulnerable code writes data beyond the allocated heap buffer boundaries, leading to heap corruption.

The attack requires user interaction—specifically, the victim must visit a malicious webpage containing the crafted HTML content. Once triggered, the memory corruption can allow an attacker to manipulate program execution flow, potentially achieving arbitrary code execution within the context of the browser process.

Given the widespread use of WebRTC across multiple platforms and browsers, this vulnerability has significant reach. The underlying flaw exists in the WebRTC project itself, which explains why multiple vendors including Google, Apple, and various Linux distributions were affected and released patches.

Root Cause

The root cause is a heap buffer overflow (CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write) in the WebRTC implementation. The vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking when handling WebRTC data, allowing an attacker to write data past the end of an allocated heap buffer. This type of memory safety issue is common in C/C++ codebases where manual memory management is required.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker must craft a malicious HTML page containing specially constructed WebRTC content and convince a victim to visit the page. The attack can be delivered through various means:

1. Phishing emails containing links to malicious websites
2. Compromised legitimate websites serving malicious content
3. Malicious advertisements (malvertising) on otherwise legitimate sites
4. Watering hole attacks targeting specific organizations or user groups

The attacker does not require any prior authentication or privileges to exploit this vulnerability. Once the victim's browser processes the malicious page, the heap corruption occurs automatically, potentially allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code with the permissions of the browser process.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-2294

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual browser crashes or instability, particularly during WebRTC-related activities (video calls, screen sharing)
• Unexpected network connections to unfamiliar external hosts following browser usage
• Memory corruption indicators such as unexpected process termination or system instability
• Presence of suspicious HTML/JavaScript files in browser cache targeting WebRTC APIs

Detection Strategies

• Deploy browser version monitoring to identify outdated Chrome, Safari, or WebKit-based applications
• Implement network traffic analysis to detect anomalous WebRTC signaling patterns or suspicious STUN/TURN server connections
• Use endpoint detection solutions to monitor for heap corruption exploitation indicators
• Enable browser crash reporting and analyze crash dumps for signs of exploitation attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor browser update status across all endpoints to ensure vulnerable versions are identified
• Implement web filtering to block known malicious domains associated with exploitation campaigns
• Enable enhanced logging for browser processes and WebRTC-related network activity
• Review CISA KEV catalog regularly for updated exploitation intelligence

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-2294

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 103.0.5060.114 or later immediately
• Apply Apple security updates for iOS, iPadOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS
• Update WebKitGTK and WPE WebKit packages on Linux systems
• Fedora users should apply updates from the Fedora Package Announcements

Patch Information

Google has released a fix in Chrome version 103.0.5060.114. The patch addresses the heap buffer overflow in the WebRTC component by implementing proper bounds checking. Organizations should update all Chrome installations immediately.

For detailed patch information, refer to the Chrome Stable Update Announcement. Additional technical details are available in Chrome Bug Report #1341043.

Apple has also released patches for affected operating systems. Gentoo Linux users should apply GLSA 2022-08-35 and GLSA 2022-08-39.

Workarounds

• Enable automatic browser updates to ensure timely patch deployment
• Consider temporarily disabling WebRTC in browsers where critical updates cannot be immediately applied (note: this breaks video conferencing and real-time communication features)
• Implement strict web content filtering to reduce exposure to malicious sites
• Use browser isolation technologies to contain potential exploitation attempts

# Verify Chrome version on Linux
google-chrome --version
# Expected output should be 103.0.5060.114 or higher

# Check for available updates on Fedora
sudo dnf check-update chromium
sudo dnf upgrade chromium