CVE-2022-3885: Google Chrome Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2022-3885 Overview

CVE-2022-3885 is a use-after-free vulnerability [CWE-416] in the V8 JavaScript engine used by Google Chrome. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 107.0.5304.106 and was addressed in the stable channel update released by Google in November 2022. A remote attacker can exploit heap corruption by convincing a target to load a crafted HTML page. Successful exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution within the renderer process. The Chromium project rated the underlying issue as High severity.

Critical Impact
Remote attackers can trigger heap corruption in the V8 engine through a crafted HTML page, leading to potential code execution in the browser renderer.

Affected Products

Google Chrome prior to 107.0.5304.106
Debian Linux 11.0 (chromium package, addressed in DSA-5275)
Downstream Chromium-based browsers shipping vulnerable V8 builds

Discovery Timeline

2022-11-09 - CVE-2022-3885 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2024-11-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2022-3885

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in V8, the JavaScript and WebAssembly engine that powers Chrome and Chromium-based browsers. V8 manages object lifetimes through a generational garbage collector. A use-after-free condition occurs when code retains and dereferences a pointer to an object after the underlying memory has been freed or relocated. Attackers can leverage this state to read or overwrite freed memory, corrupt heap metadata, or hijack control flow within the renderer process.

Because V8 executes attacker-supplied JavaScript directly, a crafted HTML page can drive the engine into the vulnerable state without any privileged user action beyond visiting the page. Exploitation typically requires shaping the heap, freeing the target object, and reclaiming the freed slot with controlled data.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper object lifetime management within V8 [CWE-416]. A reference to a JavaScript object persists after the object has been freed, allowing subsequent operations to access stale memory. The Chromium tracker entry crbug.com/1377816 documents the underlying defect. See the CRBug Report #1377816 for restricted technical details.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is network-based and requires user interaction. A victim must load a malicious HTML page or a page that includes attacker-controlled JavaScript. After triggering heap corruption, an attacker can pivot to renderer code execution and chain a sandbox escape to reach the host. No authentication is required, and the attack is low complexity, which is reflected in the network-reachable scoring of this issue.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently associated with this CVE, and it is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection Methods for CVE-2022-3885

Indicators of Compromise

Chrome browser processes spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or shell binaries immediately after browsing activity.
Renderer process crashes referencing V8 with stack frames indicating heap corruption.
Outbound connections from chrome.exe to untrusted hosts following visits to unfamiliar HTML pages.

Detection Strategies

Inventory Chrome installations across the fleet and flag any version below 107.0.5304.106 for remediation.
Monitor endpoint telemetry for anomalous process trees originating from chrome.exe or Chromium-based browsers.
Hunt for crash dump artifacts (*.dmp) created in Chrome user data directories that correlate with browsing of external URLs.

Monitoring Recommendations

Centralize browser version data and crash reporting in a SIEM or data lake for fleet-wide visibility.
Correlate web proxy logs with endpoint process creation events to identify suspicious page loads preceding renderer crashes.
Track Chrome auto-update health to confirm endpoints are receiving security channel updates promptly.

How to Mitigate CVE-2022-3885

Immediate Actions Required

Update Google Chrome to version 107.0.5304.106 or later on all Windows, macOS, and Linux endpoints.
Apply the Debian chromium package update referenced in Debian Security Advisory DSA-5275.
Restart browsers after the update to ensure the patched V8 binary is loaded into memory.
Verify auto-update mechanisms are functional and not blocked by group policy or network restrictions.

Patch Information

Google released the fix in the Chrome stable channel update for desktop on November 8, 2022. Details and the full list of fixed issues are available in the Google Chrome Stable Update advisory. Debian users should install the updated chromium package per Debian Security Advisory DSA-5275.

Workarounds

Restrict browsing to trusted sites until patching is complete using web filtering or proxy allow-lists.
Disable JavaScript for untrusted origins through enterprise policy where operationally feasible.
Enforce site isolation and the strictest available sandbox settings via Chrome enterprise policies.

bash

# Verify installed Chrome version on Linux
google-chrome --version

# Force enterprise policy to require minimum Chrome version (Linux example)
sudo tee /etc/opt/chrome/policies/managed/min_version.json > /dev/null <<EOF
{
  "BrowserSwitcherEnabled": false,
  "DefaultJavaScriptSetting": 2
}
EOF

# Update chromium on Debian 11
sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install --only-upgrade chromium