CVE-2022-2477: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2022-2477 Overview

CVE-2022-2477 is a Use After Free vulnerability in the Guest View component of Google Chrome prior to version 103.0.5060.134. This memory corruption flaw allows an attacker who can convince a user to install a malicious extension to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management in Chrome's Guest View functionality, which handles embedded content within extensions.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution within the browser context through heap corruption, potentially leading to complete system compromise.

Affected Products

• Google Chrome versions prior to 103.0.5060.134
• Chromium-based browsers utilizing the affected Guest View component
• Fedora and Gentoo Linux distributions with vulnerable Chrome packages

Discovery Timeline

• 2022-07-28 - CVE-2022-2477 published to NVD
• 2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-2477

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-416 (Use After Free), a dangerous memory corruption class that occurs when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed. In the context of Google Chrome's Guest View component, this flaw manifests when handling embedded content within browser extensions.

The Guest View component is responsible for managing embedded web content, such as <webview> tags used by Chrome extensions to display external web pages. When a malicious extension crafts specific HTML content, it can trigger a condition where freed memory is subsequently accessed, leading to heap corruption.

The network-based attack vector requires user interaction—specifically, the victim must be convinced to install a malicious extension. Once installed, the attacker can serve crafted HTML content that exploits the use-after-free condition to corrupt heap memory structures.

Root Cause

The root cause lies in improper lifecycle management of Guest View objects within Chrome's rendering engine. When certain operations are performed in a specific sequence, the code fails to properly track object references, resulting in dangling pointers. These dangling pointers can then be dereferenced when processing crafted HTML content, allowing attackers to manipulate freed memory regions and potentially achieve code execution.

Attack Vector

The attack requires a multi-step exploitation chain:

1. Extension Installation: The attacker must first convince the victim to install a malicious Chrome extension, which could be disguised as a legitimate utility
2. Triggering the Vulnerability: The malicious extension loads crafted HTML content that triggers the use-after-free condition in Guest View
3. Heap Corruption: The vulnerability allows manipulation of freed heap memory, which can be leveraged to overwrite critical data structures
4. Code Execution: Through careful heap manipulation, the attacker can potentially achieve arbitrary code execution within the browser's sandbox

The vulnerability is exploitable over the network and requires user interaction, but does not require any special privileges. For technical details on the specific bug, refer to the Chromium Bug Report.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-2477

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected Chrome extensions installed without user knowledge or consent
• Browser crashes or instability when using certain extensions
• Unusual memory consumption patterns in Chrome processes
• Extensions requesting excessive permissions for embedded content handling

Detection Strategies

• Monitor Chrome extension installations and alert on extensions from untrusted sources
• Implement endpoint detection for suspicious browser process behavior and crash patterns
• Deploy browser security policies to restrict extension installation to approved sources
• Utilize memory corruption detection tools to identify heap corruption attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable Chrome's built-in security reporting and crash analytics
• Monitor for anomalous network activity from browser processes following extension usage
• Track Chrome version deployments across the organization to ensure vulnerable versions are identified
• Implement centralized logging of browser extension activity for forensic analysis

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-2477

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Google Chrome to version 103.0.5060.134 or later immediately
• Audit all installed Chrome extensions and remove any untrusted or unnecessary extensions
• Implement group policies to control extension installation from trusted sources only
• Enable Chrome's Enhanced Safe Browsing for additional protection against malicious extensions

Patch Information

Google has addressed this vulnerability in Chrome version 103.0.5060.134, released as part of the stable channel update on July 19, 2022. Organizations should prioritize updating all Chrome installations to this version or later. The fix is documented in the Chrome Stable Channel Update.

Linux distributions have also released corresponding updates:

• Fedora has issued package updates (see Fedora Package Announcement)
• Gentoo has published security advisory GLSA 202208-35

Workarounds

• Restrict Chrome extension installation to organization-approved extensions only using enterprise policies
• Disable or remove non-essential extensions until the patch can be applied
• Consider using browser isolation technologies to contain potential exploitation
• Implement network-level controls to block known malicious extension distribution sources

# Chrome Enterprise Policy Configuration (Windows Registry)
# Restrict extension installation to approved list only
# HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Policies\Google\Chrome
# ExtensionInstallAllowlist: List of approved extension IDs
# ExtensionInstallBlocklist: Set to * to block all by default

# Linux: Create policy file
sudo mkdir -p /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed
echo '{"ExtensionInstallBlocklist": ["*"], "ExtensionInstallSources": []}' | sudo tee /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed/extension_policy.json