CVE-2022-3041 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability identified in the WebSQL component of Google Chrome versions prior to 105.0.5195.52. This vulnerability arises when the browser improperly manages memory, specifically freeing memory that is still in use, leading to heap corruption. An attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting a malicious HTML page that triggers the use-after-free condition in the WebSQL implementation. Successful exploitation could allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the browser process, potentially leading to full compromise of the affected system. The vulnerability does not require any privileges and can be triggered remotely, but it does require user interaction, such as visiting a malicious webpage. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.8 reflects the critical impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with an attack vector over the network, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction needed. Although no known exploits in the wild have been reported as of the publication date, the nature of the vulnerability and its impact make it a significant threat. The underlying weakness is classified under CWE-416 (Use After Free), a common and dangerous memory corruption issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of Google Chrome as a primary web browser across enterprises, government agencies, and critical infrastructure sectors. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive data, disruption of business operations, and potential lateral movement within networks if attackers gain a foothold via compromised endpoints. Sectors such as finance, healthcare, and public administration, which handle sensitive personal and financial data, are particularly at risk. The ability to execute arbitrary code remotely could also facilitate deployment of ransomware or espionage tools, amplifying the threat to confidentiality and availability. Given the requirement for user interaction, phishing campaigns or malicious web advertisements could be leveraged to deliver the exploit, increasing the attack surface. The lack of known active exploits provides a window for mitigation, but the high severity and ease of exploitation underscore the urgency for patching and protective measures.

European organizations should prioritize updating Google Chrome to version 105.0.5195.52 or later, where this vulnerability is patched. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible, organizations should implement network-level protections such as web filtering to block access to untrusted or suspicious websites that could host malicious HTML content. Employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions with heuristic and behavior-based detection can help identify exploitation attempts. User awareness training should emphasize the risks of interacting with unknown or suspicious web content to reduce the likelihood of triggering the vulnerability. Additionally, organizations can consider disabling or restricting WebSQL usage via browser policies or enterprise configurations if not required for business operations, thereby reducing the attack surface. Continuous monitoring of threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploit reports related to CVE-2022-3041 is also recommended to adapt defenses promptly.