CVE-2022-0456
📋 TL;DR
A use-after-free vulnerability in Chrome's Web Search component allows remote attackers to potentially exploit heap corruption when profiles are destroyed. This could lead to arbitrary code execution or browser crashes. All users of affected Chrome versions are vulnerable.
💻 Affected Systems
- Google Chrome
📦 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...
Learn more about Chrome →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Remote code execution with the same privileges as the Chrome process, potentially leading to full system compromise.
Likely Case
Browser crash (denial of service) or limited memory corruption leading to information disclosure.
If Mitigated
No impact if Chrome is fully patched or if exploit attempts are blocked by security controls.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction (visiting a malicious website). No public exploit code is available, but the vulnerability is actively being patched.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 98.0.4758.80
Vendor Advisory: https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2022/02/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Chrome. 2. Click the three-dot menu. 3. Go to Help > About Google Chrome. 4. Chrome will automatically check for and install updates. 5. Click 'Relaunch' to restart Chrome.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable JavaScript
allTemporarily disable JavaScript to prevent exploitation via malicious websites.
chrome://settings/content/javascript
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Use Chrome's built-in site isolation feature (enabled by default) to limit impact.
- Deploy network filtering to block known malicious domains and restrict web browsing.
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Chrome version in Help > About Google Chrome. If version is below 98.0.4758.80, it is vulnerable.Check Version:
google-chrome --versionVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm Chrome version is 98.0.4758.80 or higher after update.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Chrome crash reports with memory corruption signatures
- Unexpected Chrome process termination
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from Chrome to unknown domains
SIEM Query:
source="chrome_crash_reports" AND (event_type="crash" OR memory_corruption="true")