*Published: June 2024*

Google Chrome users often hear about security updates and vulnerabilities, but what really happens behind those technical reports? Today we take a deep dive into CVE-2022-3653 – a serious heap buffer overflow vulnerability found in Chrome’s Vulkan graphics feature. This flaw could let hackers run code on your computer just by getting you to visit a malicious page. Here’s how it worked, how it was fixed, and why you need to care.

What is CVE-2022-3653?

CVE-2022-3653 is what security experts call a "heap buffer overflow" in the *Vulkan* graphics component of Google Chrome. Specifically, if you ran Chrome versions before 107..5304.62, this bug could let an attacker corrupt memory in your browser by serving a sneaky, specially crafted HTML page.

If you’re not a developer, think of it this way: Chrome uses Vulkan for fast graphics. Due to a mistake in how Chrome handled Vulkan commands, an attacker could trick Chrome into reading or writing outside the proper area of your computer’s memory (the "heap"). This can lead to crashes, data leakage, or even running code chosen by the attacker.

*Chromium security team rated it “High” severity – which is one step below “Critical”. That’s as serious as it gets for browser bugs!*

How The Vulnerability Worked

Vulkan is an API designed for high-performance graphics, often used for games or complex web apps. Chrome uses this to draw more advanced graphics features. The vulnerability was caused by missing or incorrect checks in the Vulkan code.

To exploit the bug, an attacker only needed to get a user to view a malicious web page that triggers malformed Vulkan commands. The bug is a classic "heap buffer overflow." If a piece of code tries to access outside the area it’s supposed to in the heap (a type of memory allocation), dangerous things can happen.

While the full exploit details are closely held, the bug was found in code similar to this

// Pseudo-code: Vulnerable pattern in handling Vulkan command buffer
size_t size = read_size_from_input();
char* buffer = (char*)malloc(size);

// attacker controls 'size' (too big or too small)
memcpy(buffer, data, size); // BOOM! Buffer Overflow if 'size' is wrong

The attacker could set up the web page to submit commands where size is set much bigger than the actual allocated buffer – causing Chrome to read or overwrite other memory (“overflowing” the buffer).

This opens the door for all sorts of exploitation, including running code of the attacker’s choosing.

While no full "click here to hack" exploit is public, the attack would go like this

1. Server hosts a malicious HTML/JS file that uses advanced web graphics (WebGL, WebGPU APIs) to manipulate how Chrome calls Vulkan.
2. When a user loads the page in Chrome, the browser allocates memory for shaders or buffer objects – but due to the bug, the size field is wrong.

Remote code execution – meaning a hacker could install or run programs on your device.

This kind of memory bug is often the first step in a chained attack, known as a “sandbox escape.” Attackers use this flaw to get a foothold, then combine it with other bugs to break out of Chrome’s built-in security walls.

Proof-of-Concept and Responsible Disclosure

Google’s own bug tracker contains limited information (for security reasons), but you can trace the timeline:

- Public references

- Chromium Issue 1363923
   - Chrome Releases Blog (107 security fixes)
   - NIST NVD Entry

Refactor Vulkan command buffer handling.

You can see the fix in the Chromium code commit.

Here’s a fixed code snippet pattern you might see

size_t size = read_size_from_input();
if (size > MAX_VULKAN_BUFFER_SIZE) {
    // prevent overflow
    return ERROR_INVALID_SIZE;
}
char* buffer = (char*)malloc(size);
memcpy(buffer, data, size); // Now it's safer!

What You Should Do

- Update your browser! Any version of Chrome below 107..5304.62 is vulnerable. Go to “About Google Chrome” and let it auto-update.

If you use Chrome-based browsers (Edge, Brave, Opera), update those too.

- Be cautious about suspicious web pages. Even though this bug is patched, new bugs appear all the time.

Why Browser Security Matters

Bugs like CVE-2022-3653 show just how dangerous seemingly harmless web pages can be. Memory safety issues (buffer overflows, use-after-free) remain a favorite target for attackers. Browsers – given their complex codebase and exposure to the internet – are a juicy target.

If you’re a developer, always check buffer sizes. If you’re a user, keep everything up to date!

References & More Reading

- Chromium Security Fixes in 107
- NIST NVD: CVE-2022-3653
- Issue tracker (access restricted)
- Secure Coding Guidelines – Buffer Overflows

Stay safe – and remember: one browser update could save you a whole lot of trouble!

Timeline

Published on: 11/01/2022 23:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/10/2022 00:15:00 UTC