CVE-2012-2823 in Chrome
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 SVG resources.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2021
The CVE-2012-2823 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome browser versions prior to 20.0.1132.43, which falls under the broader category of memory safety issues that have historically plagued web browsers. This vulnerability specifically affects the handling of Scalable Vector Graphics resources within the browser's rendering engine, creating a dangerous condition where freed memory locations are accessed after being deallocated. The flaw occurs when the browser processes SVG elements that contain specific malformed attributes or nested structures, leading to improper memory management during the rendering cycle. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited through crafted web pages that leverage the browser's SVG processing capabilities to trigger the memory corruption.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves the browser's JavaScript engine and rendering subsystem working in concert to create a scenario where memory allocated for SVG resources is freed but subsequently accessed by other code paths. When Chrome encounters malformed SVG content that triggers an unexpected code path during the rendering process, it can lead to a situation where freed memory blocks are reused for new operations, creating a use-after-free condition. This particular flaw is classified as a CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory, and it operates at the intersection of multiple attack vectors including web content rendering and memory management. The vulnerability demonstrates how complex browser architectures can create intricate attack surfaces where seemingly benign operations like SVG processing can lead to severe security implications.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2823 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the use-after-free condition could potentially enable remote code execution in certain circumstances. Attackers could craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in vulnerable Chrome versions, would trigger the memory corruption and potentially allow arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the browser process. This risk is particularly significant given Chrome's widespread adoption and the fact that users frequently browse untrusted websites without considering the security implications. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also enterprise environments where browser-based attacks represent a primary vector for initial compromise. Organizations relying on Chrome for web browsing face potential exposure to attacks that could escalate into full system compromise, making this vulnerability particularly concerning from a cybersecurity risk management perspective.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2823 primarily involve immediate patching of Chrome installations to versions 20.0.1132.43 and later, which contain the necessary memory management fixes and defensive programming improvements. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management policies that ensure all browser installations are kept up to date with the latest security releases. Additional protective measures include implementing web content filtering solutions that can detect and block potentially malicious SVG content, as well as deploying browser security extensions that provide additional sandboxing capabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving exploitation of memory corruption flaws and browser-based attack vectors, emphasizing the need for layered security approaches. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious web traffic patterns associated with known exploit signatures for this vulnerability, along with regular security assessments to identify any remaining exposure risks in their browser environments.