CVE-2022-3304 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability identified in the CSS component of Google Chrome versions prior to 106.0.5249.62. This vulnerability arises from improper memory management, specifically a use-after-free condition (CWE-416), where the browser attempts to access memory that has already been freed. An attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting a malicious HTML page containing specially designed CSS, which when rendered by the vulnerable Chrome browser, can trigger heap corruption. This heap corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution, allowing a remote attacker to execute code in the context of the affected browser process. The vulnerability requires no privileges (AV:N), has low attack complexity (AC:L), does not require prior authentication (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R) such as visiting a malicious webpage. The impact scope is unchanged (S:U), but the confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts are all high (C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating that successful exploitation could lead to full compromise of the browser environment. Although no known exploits in the wild have been reported at the time of publication, the high CVSS score of 8.8 reflects the critical nature of this flaw. Given Chrome's widespread use, this vulnerability represents a significant risk vector for remote code execution attacks via web content.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-3304 is substantial due to the ubiquitous use of Google Chrome across enterprises, government agencies, and critical infrastructure sectors. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass browser security boundaries, execute arbitrary code, steal sensitive data, or deploy malware within corporate networks. This is particularly concerning for sectors handling sensitive personal data under GDPR, as exploitation could lead to data breaches with regulatory and financial consequences. Additionally, compromised browsers can serve as entry points for lateral movement within networks, potentially affecting operational technology and critical services. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be leveraged to trigger exploitation, increasing the risk profile. The absence of known exploits in the wild does not diminish the urgency, as the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and could be weaponized by threat actors targeting European entities.

Organizations should prioritize updating Google Chrome to version 106.0.5249.62 or later, where this vulnerability has been patched. Given the lack of direct patch links in the provided data, administrators should verify the latest Chrome stable release and apply updates promptly. Additionally, implement browser security best practices such as enabling sandboxing features, restricting browser extensions to trusted sources, and employing web content filtering to block access to malicious sites. User awareness training should emphasize caution when clicking on unknown links or visiting untrusted websites to mitigate the user interaction requirement. Network-level protections like intrusion detection systems (IDS) and web proxies can help detect and block exploit attempts. For high-security environments, consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying anomalous browser behavior indicative of exploitation attempts.