CVE-2022-3196 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability identified in the PDF processing component of Google Chrome versions prior to 105.0.5195.125. This vulnerability arises from improper memory management where a reference to a freed heap memory object is accessed, leading to potential heap corruption. An attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting a malicious PDF file that, when opened in a vulnerable Chrome browser, triggers the use-after-free condition. The exploitation can result in arbitrary code execution within the context of the browser process, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. The vulnerability requires no privileges and can be triggered remotely, but user interaction is necessary as the victim must open the malicious PDF. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with the ease of exploitation (network vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required). Although no known exploits in the wild have been reported at the time of publication, the nature of the vulnerability and its presence in a widely used browser make it a significant threat. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-416 (Use After Free), a common and dangerous memory corruption issue. The lack of specified affected versions suggests all Chrome versions before 105.0.5195.125 are vulnerable. No official patch links were provided in the source data, but it is expected that Google has addressed this in Chrome 105.0.5195.125 and later releases.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk due to the widespread use of Google Chrome as a primary web browser across enterprises and public sectors. Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution, enabling attackers to steal sensitive data, install persistent malware, or disrupt operations. This is particularly critical for organizations handling sensitive personal data under GDPR, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and government agencies. The requirement for user interaction (opening a malicious PDF) means phishing campaigns or malicious document distribution remain the likely attack vectors. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, exploitation could result in data breaches, operational downtime, and reputational damage. The vulnerability also threatens endpoints that access web-based services or email clients that render PDFs within Chrome, increasing the attack surface. Although no active exploits are reported, the high severity and ease of exploitation necessitate urgent mitigation to prevent potential targeted attacks or opportunistic exploitation.

European organizations should prioritize updating Google Chrome to version 105.0.5195.125 or later immediately to remediate this vulnerability. Until updates are deployed, organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Enforce strict email filtering and attachment scanning to block or quarantine suspicious PDF files, especially from untrusted sources. 2) Educate users on the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected PDF attachments and encourage verification of document sources. 3) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unusual memory access patterns or process injections related to Chrome. 4) Disable or restrict PDF rendering within Chrome where feasible, or use alternative PDF viewers with better security controls. 5) Monitor threat intelligence feeds for emerging exploit indicators related to CVE-2022-3196 to enable proactive defense. 6) Implement network segmentation and least privilege principles to limit the impact of a compromised endpoint. These targeted mitigations complement patching and reduce the attack surface while updates are being rolled out.