CVE-2022-1364
Google Chromium V8 Type Confusion Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2022-1364 is a type confusion vulnerability in the Google Chromium V8 JavaScript engine that allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption via a crafted HTML page. This vulnerability affects multiple web browsers that utilize the Chromium engine, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, and Opera. The type confusion flaw in V8 can lead to arbitrary code execution when a user visits a malicious web page crafted to trigger the incorrect type handling. CISA has added CVE-2022-1364 to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of May 6, 2022. The EPSS percentile of approximately 96% indicates very high exploitation probability.
KEV Information
CVSS Score
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:HOpen in CalculatorAffected Products
| Vendor | Product | Version |
|---|---|---|
| chrome | < 100.0.4896.127 |
Multiple CVSS Assessments
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
References
- https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2022/04/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_14.html(Release Notes, Vendor Advisory)
- https://crbug.com/1315901(Exploit, Issue Tracking, Patch, Vendor Advisory)
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-25(Third Party Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-1364(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
Type Confusion in Chromium V8
The type confusion vulnerability in Google Chromium's V8 JavaScript engine occurs when the engine accesses an object using a type that is incompatible with the actual type of the object in memory. In CVE-2022-1364, V8 incorrectly handles type information during JavaScript execution, causing it to misinterpret memory layout and enabling heap corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution within the browser process.
Learn more: CWE-843 — Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type (Type Confusion)
Impact Analysis
CVE-2022-1364 is remotely exploitable over the network without any authentication from the attacker, though user interaction is required in the form of visiting a malicious web page. The type confusion in V8 leads to heap corruption that can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution within the browser's renderer process. Confidentiality: Successful exploitation can expose sensitive data within the browser process, including stored credentials, session tokens, cookies, and browsing data. Integrity: Code execution through heap corruption enables the attacker to modify browser data, inject malicious scripts, or install additional malware. Availability: The heap corruption can crash the browser or enable persistent compromise of the affected system. The EPSS percentile of approximately 96% indicates very high exploitation activity, and the vulnerability's impact is amplified by affecting all Chromium-based browsers, which collectively represent the majority of the browser market.
Exploit Maturity
CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2022-1364 in the wild by including it in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of May 6, 2022. The EPSS percentile of approximately 96% indicates very high exploitation activity. Google has acknowledged that an exploit for CVE-2022-1364 exists in the wild, and the vulnerability was patched as a zero-day, meaning it was being actively exploited before a fix was available. The confirmed zero-day status and KEV listing demonstrate that sophisticated threat actors had working exploits for this V8 type confusion vulnerability and were using them in targeted attacks against Chromium-based browser users.
Remediation
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Update all Chromium-based browsers immediately as directed by CISA: "Apply updates per vendor instructions." Update Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Brave, and any other Chromium-based browsers to versions that include the V8 type confusion fix.
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Enable automatic browser updates across all managed systems to ensure that future V8 security patches are applied as soon as they become available. Use enterprise browser management tools to verify update compliance across your organization.
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Implement browser isolation technology for high-risk users and sensitive environments. Browser isolation ensures that web content is rendered in an isolated environment, preventing exploitation of V8 vulnerabilities from affecting the local system even if the vulnerability is triggered.
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Deploy web content filtering to block access to known malicious domains and reduce the likelihood of users encountering exploit pages. Implement DNS filtering, web proxy solutions, and category-based blocking to restrict access to untrusted or suspicious websites.
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Monitor for exploitation indicators by reviewing endpoint detection logs for unusual Chromium process behavior, unexpected child processes spawned by browser applications, and signs of sandbox escape or post-exploitation activity originating from browser processes.
Technical Details
CVE-2022-1364 is a type confusion vulnerability (CWE-843) in the V8 JavaScript engine that powers all Chromium-based web browsers. Type confusion in V8 occurs when the engine's Just-In-Time (JIT) compiler or interpreter incorrectly tracks the type of a JavaScript object, causing subsequent operations to access the object's memory using assumptions from a different, incompatible type. This type mismatch leads to out-of-bounds memory access and heap corruption, as the engine reads or writes memory based on the wrong object layout. An attacker exploits this by crafting specific JavaScript code that triggers the type confusion condition in V8, then manipulates the corrupted heap state to gain arbitrary read/write primitives within the renderer process. The vulnerability requires the victim to navigate to a crafted HTML page, and the low attack complexity combined with the high impact of code execution within the browser makes this a particularly dangerous V8 vulnerability.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2022-1364 being actively exploited?
Yes, CVE-2022-1364 was actively exploited as a zero-day vulnerability before a patch was available. CISA has added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of May 6, 2022. The EPSS percentile of approximately 96% confirms very high exploitation activity.
What products are affected by CVE-2022-1364?
CVE-2022-1364 affects all browsers and products using the Chromium V8 JavaScript engine, including Google Chrome, Microsoft Edge, Opera, Brave, and other Chromium derivatives. Any application embedding the V8 engine for JavaScript execution may be affected.
How do I fix CVE-2022-1364?
Update all Chromium-based browsers to the latest versions that include the V8 type confusion fix. Enable automatic browser updates and implement browser isolation technology for high-risk users as an additional defense layer.
How severe is CVE-2022-1364?
CVE-2022-1364 is a high-severity vulnerability with an EPSS percentile of approximately 96% and confirmed zero-day exploitation. The V8 type confusion enables remote code execution through malicious web pages, affecting the vast majority of browser users through the Chromium ecosystem.
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