CVE-2012-2807 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in libxml2, as used in Google Chrome before 20.0.1132.43 and other products, on 64-bit Linux platforms allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2807 represents a critical security flaw within libxml2, a widely deployed XML parsing library that forms the backbone of numerous applications including Google Chrome. This issue specifically manifests on 64-bit Linux platforms where integer overflow conditions can be exploited by remote attackers to potentially disrupt system operations or achieve more severe consequences. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond Chrome to encompass other software products that depend on libxml2 for XML processing functionality.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of integer values during XML parsing operations, creating conditions where arithmetic operations exceed the maximum representable value for integer data types. When processing malformed XML documents, the library fails to properly validate input data, leading to scenarios where integer overflows occur during memory allocation calculations or loop iterations. These overflows can result in memory corruption, unexpected program behavior, or complete application crashes. The vulnerability's exploitation requires remote attackers to craft specific XML content that triggers these arithmetic overflow conditions, making it particularly dangerous in web-based environments where users may encounter malformed content.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2807 presents significant risks to affected systems, particularly those running vulnerable versions of Google Chrome or other applications utilizing the compromised libxml2 library. A successful exploitation can lead to denial of service conditions where targeted applications become unresponsive or crash entirely, disrupting user productivity and potentially providing attackers with opportunities for further exploitation. The unspecified nature of additional potential impacts suggests that under certain conditions, attackers might be able to execute arbitrary code or gain elevated privileges, though this remains theoretical without specific exploitation details. The 64-bit Linux platform specificity indicates that the vulnerability's exploitation vector and success conditions are optimized for this particular architecture, potentially affecting a significant portion of modern server and desktop environments.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected software components, with system administrators prioritizing updates to libxml2 versions that address these integer overflow conditions. Organizations should implement comprehensive vulnerability management processes that include regular scanning for outdated libraries and applications that depend on vulnerable components. Network security measures such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional protection layers by inspecting XML content before it reaches vulnerable applications. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1203, covering exploitation for privilege escalation through memory corruption. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies and sandboxing mechanisms to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where patching may be delayed or problematic.