CVE-2022-0101
📋 TL;DR
A heap buffer overflow vulnerability in Google Chrome's bookmarks feature allows remote attackers to potentially exploit heap corruption by convincing users to perform specific gestures. This affects Chrome users on all platforms running versions prior to 97.0.4692.71. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
💻 Affected Systems
- Google Chrome
- Chromium-based browsers
📦 What is this software?
Chrome by Google
Google Chrome is the world's most popular web browser, used by over 3 billion users globally across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS platforms. As a Chromium-based browser developed by Google, Chrome dominates the browser market with approximately 65% market share, making it a critical compon...
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⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution with the privileges of the Chrome process, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or ransomware deployment.
Likely Case
Browser crash (denial of service) or limited information disclosure from memory corruption.
If Mitigated
No impact if Chrome is updated to patched version or if user doesn't perform the specific malicious gesture.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires user interaction (specific gestures) but no authentication. No public exploit code available at disclosure.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 97.0.4692.71
Vendor Advisory: https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2022/01/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Chrome. 2. Click three-dot menu → Help → About Google Chrome. 3. Chrome will automatically check for and install update. 4. Click 'Relaunch' to restart Chrome with updated version.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable bookmarks feature
allRemove or disable bookmarks functionality to prevent exploitation vector
Not applicable - requires Chrome policy configuration or extension removal
Use alternative browser
allTemporarily switch to non-Chromium browser until patched
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized Chrome execution
- Deploy network filtering to block access to untrusted websites
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Chrome version: Open Chrome → Click three-dot menu → Help → About Google Chrome. If version is below 97.0.4692.71, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
On Windows: "C:\Program Files\Google\Chrome\Application\chrome.exe" --version
On Linux: google-chrome --version
On macOS: /Applications/Google\ Chrome.app/Contents/MacOS/Google\ Chrome --versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm Chrome version is 97.0.4692.71 or higher using same method.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Chrome crash reports with memory corruption signatures
- Unexpected Chrome process termination events
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from Chrome process post-user interaction
SIEM Query:
source="chrome_crash_reports" AND (message="heap" OR message="buffer" OR message="corruption")🔗 References
- https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2022/01/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html
- https://crbug.com/1249426
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/5PAGL5M2KGYPN3VEQCRJJE6NA7D5YG5X/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/KQJB6ZPRLKV6WCMX2PRRRQBFAOXFBK6B/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/MRWRAXAFR3JR7XCFWTHC2KALSZKWACCE/
- https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2022/01/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html
- https://crbug.com/1249426
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/5PAGL5M2KGYPN3VEQCRJJE6NA7D5YG5X/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/KQJB6ZPRLKV6WCMX2PRRRQBFAOXFBK6B/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/MRWRAXAFR3JR7XCFWTHC2KALSZKWACCE/
