CVE-2012-2817 in iTunes
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 20.0.1132.43 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to tables that have sections.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2817 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome browser versions prior to 20.0.1132.43. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating potential attack vectors for remote exploitation. The specific conditions that trigger this vulnerability involve table elements with sections, particularly in web page rendering contexts where the browser processes structured data. Such use-after-free conditions are classified under CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs within Chrome's rendering engine when processing HTML tables that contain sections such as thead, tbody, and tfoot elements. When these table structures are manipulated in specific ways, the browser's memory management system fails to properly track the lifecycle of allocated memory blocks. This allows remote attackers to craft malicious web pages that, when rendered by the vulnerable browser, trigger the premature freeing of memory structures while still maintaining references to them. The exploitation mechanism relies on the browser's handling of table section elements, where improper memory deallocation creates dangling pointers that can be manipulated by attackers to execute malicious code or cause system crashes.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2817 extends beyond simple denial of service, presenting potential for more severe consequences including remote code execution and system compromise. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability can allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the browser, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability affects all versions of Chrome prior to 20.0.1132.43 and represents a significant risk to users who have not updated their browsers. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability fits into the attack pattern described by ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through browser-based attacks, and T1499 which involves the use of denial of service attacks to disrupt system availability.
Organizations and individual users should prioritize immediate remediation through browser updates, as Google released version 20.0.1132.43 to address this vulnerability. The patch implemented by Google specifically addresses the memory management issues in table section handling, ensuring proper deallocation and reference tracking. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to prevent access to known malicious websites that may exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, user education regarding the importance of keeping browsers updated and avoiding untrusted web content remains crucial in mitigating the risk associated with this and similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in browser engines and highlights the need for continuous security testing and rapid response to identified threats in widely used software applications.