CVE-2022-1856
📋 TL;DR
This is a use-after-free vulnerability in Chrome's User Education feature that could allow heap corruption. An attacker who convinces a user to install a malicious extension could potentially exploit this to execute arbitrary code. All Chrome users prior to version 102.0.5005.61 are affected.
💻 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 privileges of the Chrome process, potentially leading to full system compromise.
Likely Case
Browser crash or limited data corruption; successful exploitation requires user interaction and malicious extension installation.
If Mitigated
No impact if Chrome is updated to patched version or malicious extensions are prevented.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user to install malicious extension and specific user interaction; no public exploit code known.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 102.0.5005.61 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2022/05/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_24.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
Open Chrome
Click menu (three dots) → Help → About Google Chrome
Chrome will automatically check for and install updates
Click 'Relaunch' to restart Chrome with the update
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Chrome Extensions
allTemporarily disable all extensions to prevent exploitation via malicious extensions
chrome://extensions/ → toggle off all extensions
Restrict Extension Installation
allConfigure Chrome policies to restrict extension installation to approved sources only
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Use alternative browser until Chrome can be updated
- Implement application whitelisting to block Chrome execution
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Chrome version in About Google Chrome page; if version is below 102.0.5005.61, system is vulnerableCheck Version:
chrome://version/ or 'google-chrome --version' (Linux/macOS)Verify Fix Applied:
Confirm Chrome version is 102.0.5005.61 or higher in About Google Chrome page📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Chrome crash reports with memory corruption signatures
- Unexpected extension installation events
Network Indicators:
- Downloads of unknown Chrome extensions from untrusted sources
SIEM Query:
source="chrome" AND (event="crash" OR event="extension_install")🔗 References
- https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2022/05/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_24.html
- https://crbug.com/1323239
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-25
- https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2022/05/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_24.html
- https://crbug.com/1323239
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-25
