Google Patches New Chrome zero-day Flaw Exploited in Attacks

Google has released Chrome 103.0.5060.114 for Windows users to address a high-severity zero-day vulnerability exploited by attackers in the wild, the fourth Chrome zero-day patched in 2022.

“Google is aware that an exploit for CVE-2022-2294 exists in the wild.,” the browser vendor explained in a security advisory published on Monday.

The 103.0.5060.114 version is rolling out worldwide in the Stable Desktop channel, with Google saying that it’s a matter of days or weeks until it reaches the entire userbase.

This update was available immediately when BleepingComputer checked for new updates by going into Chrome menu > Help > About Google Chrome.

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The web browser will also auto-check for new updates and automatically install them after the next launch.

Attack details not revealed

The zero-day bug fixed today (tracked as CVE-2022-2294) is high severity heap-based buffer overflow weakness in the WebRTC (Web Real-Time Communications) component, reported by Jan Vojtesek of the Avast Threat Intelligence team on Friday, July 1.

The impact of successful heap overflow exploitation can range from program crashes and arbitrary code execution to bypassing security solutions if code execution is achieved during the attack.

Although Google says this zero-day vulnerability was exploited in the wild, the company is yet to share technical details or a any info regarding these incidents.

“Access to bug details and links may be kept restricted until a majority of users are updated with a fix,” Google said.

“We will also retain restrictions if the bug exists in a third party library that other projects similarly depend on, but haven’t yet fixed.”

With this delayed release of more info on the attacks, Chrome users should have enough time to update and prevent exploitation attempts until Google provides additional details.

Fourth Chome zero-day fixed this year

With this update, Google has addressed the fourth Chrome zero-day since the start of the year.

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The previous three zero-day vulnerabilities found and patched in 2022 are:

• CVE-2022-1364 – April 14th
• CVE-2022-1096 – March 25th
• CVE-2022-0609 – February 14th

The one fixed in February, CVE-2022-0609, was exploited by North Korean-backed state hackers weeks before the February patch, according to the Google Threat Analysis Group (TAG). The earliest signs of in the wild exploitation was found on January 4, 2022.

It was abused by two North Korean-sponsored threat groups in campaigns pushing malware via phishing emails using fake job lures and compromised websites hosting hidden iframes to serve exploit kits.

Because the zero-day patched today is known to have been used by attackers in the wild, is it strongly recommended to install today’s Google Chrome update as soon as possible.