CVE-2012-2819 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The texSubImage2D implementation in the WebGL subsystem in Google Chrome before 20.0.1132.43 does not properly handle uploads to floating-point textures, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (assertion failure and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted web page, as demonstrated by certain WebGL performance tests, aka rdar problem 11520387.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2819 represents a critical flaw in the WebGL implementation of Google Chrome browsers prior to version 20.0.1132.43. This issue resides within the texSubImage2D function which is part of the WebGL subsystem responsible for texture handling operations. The vulnerability specifically targets floating-point texture uploads and demonstrates how improper input validation can lead to system instability. The flaw manifests when the browser processes WebGL commands that attempt to upload texture data to floating-point texture objects, creating a scenario where memory management and validation checks fail to properly handle the operation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted web pages that leverage WebGL performance tests to trigger the problematic code path. When Chrome processes these malicious texture upload operations, the implementation fails to validate the parameters correctly, leading to assertion failures within the graphics rendering pipeline. This assertion failure ultimately results in application crashes and denial of service conditions that can be triggered remotely through web content. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of graphics processing and memory management, where improper bounds checking and parameter validation leads to memory corruption scenarios that can be exploited by remote attackers.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for users of affected Chrome versions as it allows remote code execution through browser-based attacks. The denial of service aspect means that legitimate web browsing experiences can be disrupted through simple web page visits, while the potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that more severe consequences could theoretically occur. The vulnerability affects the core browser functionality and represents a failure in the graphics subsystem's security model, potentially allowing attackers to bypass traditional browser security mechanisms. This issue particularly impacts users who engage with web content that may contain malicious WebGL implementations or who visit compromised websites that utilize these attack vectors.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, as the improper handling of texture data can lead to memory corruption scenarios. From the ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving privilege escalation and denial of service through application-level exploits. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it leverages the WebGL API which is commonly used for rich web graphics, making exploitation more likely through typical web browsing activities. The vulnerability also demonstrates a lack of proper input sanitization and validation in graphics processing APIs, which is a common pattern in browser-based security flaws. Organizations should prioritize updating affected Chrome installations to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability can be triggered without user interaction through automated web content delivery. The fix implemented in Chrome version 20.0.1132.43 included enhanced parameter validation and bounds checking for texture upload operations, addressing the root cause of the assertion failures and memory corruption scenarios that enabled the denial of service conditions.