CVE-2022-3318 - Use-after-free Vulnerability in ChromeOS Notifications in Google Chrome: Exploit Details and Mitigation Measures

Google Chrome has been the go-to browser for millions of users worldwide owing to its speedy performance, stability, and convenience. Recently, a security vulnerability was detected in the ChromeOS Notifications feature of Google Chrome on ChromeOS prior to version 106..5249.62, presenting an exploitable pathway for remote attackers leading to heap corruption. Identified as CVE-2022-3318, this use-after-free flaw falls under the Low severity category, as per Chromium's security advisory.

In this long read article, we'll dive into the specifics of the CVE-2022-3318 vulnerability, investigate a code snippet demonstrating the use-after-free issue, provide references to original sources, and outline the exploit details and mitigation measures.

What is use-after-free in ChromeOS Notifications?
ChromeOS Notifications are an essential aspect of the user experience, providing alerts and updates on user activity. The CVE-2022-3318 vulnerability, a use-after-free error, exposes a potential pathway for remote attackers to exploit heap corruption by abusing the ChromeOS Notifications feature.

In short, a use-after-free issue occurs when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed. This can lead to memory corruption, crashes, or even code execution, which an attacker could utilize to gain unauthorized access or take control of the affected system.

Code Snippet

Let's take a closer look at a simplified example of the use-after-free vulnerability in ChromeOS Notifications:

class ChromeOSNotification {
public:
  void someMethod() {
    // some code
  }
};

int main() {
  ChromeOSNotification *ptr = new ChromeOSNotification();
  ptr->someMethod();
    
  delete ptr; // Frees the memory pointed to by ptr
  
  // Use after free
  ptr->someMethod(); // ptr is now pointing to freed memory
}

This code snippet demonstrates a fundamental use-after-free issue: a ChromeOSNotification class is created and utilized. After freeing the memory, the 'ptr' pointer is still used, resulting in a use-after-free vulnerability. A remote attacker who successfully exploits this flaw could potentially tamper with memory data or execute arbitrary code.

References

Original sources highlighting the CVE-2022-3318 vulnerability and updates released by Chromium can be found here:
1. Chromium Security Updates - link
2. CVE Database - link
3. Google Chrome Release Notes - link

Exploit Details

The exploitation of the CVE-2022-3318 vulnerability is contingent upon a remote attacker persuading a user to reboot Chrome OS. Following a successful reboot, the attacker could potentially exploit heap corruption via UI interaction, potentially leading to unauthorized data access, system crashes, or code execution.

Mitigation Measures

Since the CVE-2022-3318 vulnerability affects Google Chrome on ChromeOS prior to version 106..5249.62, users must update their browsers immediately to ensure optimal security. Google has released the stable channel update 106..5249.62 for Windows, Mac, and Linux devices, which contains security fixes for CVE-2022-3318 and other vulnerabilities.

The browser will automatically check for updates and install the latest version if available.

In conclusion, the CVE-2022-3318 use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome's ChromeOS Notifications feature presents a low-severity security risk that can be mitigated by promptly updating the browser to the latest stable release. By staying informed about security vulnerabilities and employing effective practices, users can ensure their systems remain impervious to potential exploits.

Timeline

Published on: 11/01/2022 20:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 08/08/2023 14:21:00 UTC