CVE-2022-3199 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability found in the Frames component of Google Chrome versions prior to 105.0.5195.125. This vulnerability arises when the browser improperly manages memory related to frame objects, leading to a use-after-free condition. An attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting a malicious HTML page that triggers heap corruption. Heap corruption can allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code, potentially gaining control over the victim's system or causing a denial of service. The vulnerability does not require any privileges and can be triggered remotely via a specially crafted web page, although it requires user interaction (visiting or interacting with the malicious page). The CVSS 3.1 base score is 8.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with an attack vector over the network, low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction needed. While no known exploits in the wild have been reported, the nature of the vulnerability and its presence in a widely used browser make it a significant security concern. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 (Use After Free), a common memory corruption issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution or crashes. The flaw was publicly disclosed on September 26, 2022, and fixed in Chrome version 105.0.5195.125 and later. Users running older versions remain vulnerable until they 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 compromise endpoint devices, steal sensitive data, or disrupt operations. Confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems could be severely impacted, especially in environments where Chrome is used to access internal web applications or sensitive online services. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be leveraged to deliver the exploit. Given the high CVSS score and the potential for arbitrary code execution, organizations face risks including data breaches, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement within networks. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits targeting unpatched systems. The vulnerability also affects supply chain security, as compromised endpoints could be used to infiltrate broader organizational networks.

European organizations should prioritize updating all instances of Google Chrome to version 105.0.5195.125 or later without delay. Automated patch management systems should be configured to enforce this update across all endpoints. Additionally, organizations should implement network-level protections such as web filtering to block access to known malicious sites and employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts. User awareness training should emphasize the risks of interacting with untrusted web content and phishing emails, reducing the likelihood of successful exploitation. For high-security environments, consider deploying browser isolation technologies or restricting the use of Chrome to trusted sites only. Regular vulnerability scanning and asset inventory should be maintained to ensure no devices are running outdated Chrome versions. Incident response plans should be updated to include detection and mitigation steps for use-after-free exploitation attempts. Finally, organizations should monitor threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploit code or attack campaigns related to this vulnerability.