CVE-2022-2858 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability identified in the Sign-In Flow component of Google Chrome versions prior to 104.0.5112.101. This vulnerability arises from improper memory management where a previously freed object is accessed again, leading to heap corruption. The flaw can be triggered remotely by an attacker through specific user interface interactions, requiring user interaction but no prior authentication. Exploiting this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code, compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 reflects the critical impact potential, with network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits in the wild have been reported, the vulnerability's nature and impact make it a significant threat. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 (Use After Free), a common and dangerous memory corruption issue. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on September 26, 2022, and affects all Chrome versions prior to the patched release 104.0.5112.101. Users and organizations relying on Chrome for web browsing are at risk if they have not applied the update.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk due to the widespread use of Google Chrome as a primary web browser across enterprises, government agencies, and critical infrastructure sectors. Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution, enabling attackers to deploy malware, steal sensitive data, or disrupt operations. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be leveraged to trigger the exploit, increasing the attack surface. Given the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, organizations handling sensitive personal data (e.g., GDPR-regulated entities), financial information, or critical services could face severe consequences including data breaches, operational downtime, and regulatory penalties. The vulnerability also threatens endpoint security, potentially serving as an initial foothold for broader network compromise. Although no active exploits have been reported, the ease of exploitation and the critical nature of the flaw necessitate urgent remediation to mitigate risks in the European context.

European organizations should immediately ensure that all Google Chrome installations are updated to version 104.0.5112.101 or later, where this vulnerability has been patched. Automated patch management systems should be leveraged to expedite deployment across all endpoints. Additionally, organizations should implement strict browser usage policies that limit the execution of untrusted or unknown web content, and employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. User awareness training should be enhanced to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that could trigger the vulnerability. Network-level protections such as web filtering and intrusion prevention systems (IPS) should be configured to block or monitor suspicious web traffic patterns. For high-security environments, consider using browser isolation technologies to contain potential exploitation. Continuous monitoring for unusual process behavior or memory corruption indicators on endpoints can provide early detection of exploitation attempts. Finally, organizations should review and update incident response plans to address potential exploitation scenarios involving browser-based vulnerabilities.