CVE-2022-4262
Google Chromium V8 Type Confusion Vulnerability
Description
CVE-2022-4262 is a high-severity type confusion vulnerability in the V8 JavaScript engine used by Google Chrome prior to version 108.0.5359.94. This type confusion flaw in V8 allows a remote attacker to potentially exploit heap corruption through a specially crafted HTML page, which could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the browser. CISA has added CVE-2022-4262 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of December 26, 2022, confirming active exploitation in the wild. With an EPSS score of 6.4% (91st percentile), the Google Chrome V8 type confusion vulnerability represents a significant security risk for all users running unpatched versions of Chrome or Chromium-based browsers.
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 | < 108.0.5359.94 |
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/2022/12/stable-channel-update-for-desktop.html(Patch, Release Notes, Vendor Advisory)
- https://crbug.com/1394403(Permissions Required, Vendor Advisory)
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-4262(US Government Resource)
Weakness Type
CWE-843: Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type (Type Confusion)
In the context of CVE-2022-4262, the V8 JavaScript engine in Google Chrome mishandles type information during execution, causing it to access memory using an incorrect type assumption. This type confusion weakness allows attackers to craft malicious JavaScript that triggers heap corruption, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution when a user visits a specially crafted web page.
Learn more: CWE-843 — Access of Resource Using Incompatible Type (Type Confusion)
Impact Analysis
CVE-2022-4262 is remotely exploitable without physical access and with low attack complexity, though it requires user interaction in the form of visiting a malicious web page. No authentication or privileges are needed to exploit this vulnerability, meaning any user who navigates to a crafted HTML page is at risk. Confidentiality (High): Successful exploitation can expose sensitive browser data, session tokens, and potentially data from other browser tabs or processes. Integrity (High): Heap corruption from the type confusion can allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code, modify browser behavior, and tamper with displayed content. Availability (High): The vulnerability can cause browser crashes or be leveraged for persistent compromise of the affected system. With a CVSS score of 8.8 (High) and its inclusion in the CISA KEV catalog, CVE-2022-4262 demonstrates the ongoing risk that V8 engine vulnerabilities pose to the billions of users who rely on Chromium-based browsers.
Exploit Maturity
CISA has confirmed active exploitation of CVE-2022-4262 in the wild and has included it in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of December 26, 2022. The EPSS score of 6.4% (91st percentile) indicates that while exploitation exists, it may be targeted rather than widespread. Google has acknowledged that an exploit for CVE-2022-4262 exists in the wild, as noted in the Chrome stable channel release announcement.
Remediation
- Update Google Chrome immediately to version 108.0.5359.94 or later, as directed by CISA: "Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable." The fix is available through the Chrome stable channel update.
- Update all Chromium-based browsers in your environment, including Microsoft Edge, Brave, Opera, and Vivaldi, as they share the V8 engine and may be similarly affected by this type confusion vulnerability.
- Enable automatic Chrome updates across your organization using enterprise management tools (e.g., Google Admin console, Group Policy) to ensure timely deployment of security patches that address V8 vulnerabilities.
- Monitor for suspicious browser activity including unexpected crashes, unusual memory consumption, or signs of exploitation such as unauthorized process spawning from browser processes. Review endpoint detection logs for indicators of heap corruption exploitation.
- Consider implementing site isolation and browser sandboxing hardening to limit the impact of V8 type confusion vulnerabilities. Ensure that Chrome's built-in security features such as Site Isolation are enabled to reduce the potential blast radius of successful exploitation.
Technical Details
CVE-2022-4262 is a type confusion vulnerability (CWE-843) in the V8 JavaScript engine, which is the core execution engine for JavaScript in Google Chrome and all Chromium-based browsers. The flaw occurs when V8 incorrectly handles type information during just-in-time (JIT) compilation or runtime execution, causing the engine to interpret a memory object as a different type than intended. This type confusion leads to heap corruption, where memory structures are accessed or modified using incorrect size and layout assumptions. As indicated by the CVSS vector (AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H), exploitation requires the victim to visit a malicious web page (user interaction required), but the attack itself is straightforward with no special prerequisites. The heap corruption resulting from the type confusion can be leveraged to achieve arbitrary code execution within the renderer process, potentially leading to full system compromise if combined with a sandbox escape.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CVE-2022-4262 being actively exploited?
Yes, CVE-2022-4262 is being actively exploited in the wild. CISA has included it in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog with a remediation deadline of December 26, 2022. Google has confirmed that an exploit for this vulnerability exists in the wild.
What products are affected by CVE-2022-4262?
CVE-2022-4262 affects Google Chrome versions prior to 108.0.5359.94. Since the vulnerability resides in the V8 JavaScript engine, other Chromium-based browsers may also be affected and should be updated accordingly.
How do I fix CVE-2022-4262?
Update Google Chrome to version 108.0.5359.94 or later immediately. Also update any other Chromium-based browsers in your environment. Enable automatic updates to ensure timely patching of future V8 vulnerabilities. See the Remediation section for complete guidance.
How severe is CVE-2022-4262?
CVE-2022-4262 is rated High severity with a CVSS score of 8.8 out of 10. Its EPSS score of 6.4% places it in the 91st percentile for exploitation probability. The confirmed active exploitation and potential for arbitrary code execution make this a high-priority vulnerability.
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