CVE-2012-2852 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The PDF functionality in Google Chrome before 21.0.1180.57 on Mac OS X and Linux, and before 21.0.1180.60 on Windows and Chrome Frame, does not properly handle object linkage, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (use-after-free) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2852 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's PDF rendering engine that affected multiple operating systems and platforms. This issue specifically targets the PDF functionality within Chrome browsers and manifests as improper handling of object linkage during document processing. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to 21.0.1180.57 for Mac OS X and Linux systems, and before 21.0.1180.60 for Windows systems and Chrome Frame implementations. The flaw occurs when Chrome processes specially crafted PDF documents that contain malformed object references, creating conditions that can lead to dangerous memory corruption scenarios.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from a use-after-free condition that occurs when the PDF rendering engine attempts to manage object references within maliciously constructed documents. When Chrome encounters such documents, the PDF parser fails to properly validate object linkage relationships, leading to situations where memory locations are accessed after they have been freed or reallocated. This memory management error creates opportunities for remote attackers to exploit the browser's PDF handling capabilities, potentially causing system instability or executing arbitrary code. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory safety issues and browser security boundaries, making it particularly dangerous in the context of web-based attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2852 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass potential system compromise and data exposure risks. Attackers can craft PDF documents that trigger the use-after-free condition when opened in vulnerable Chrome versions, potentially leading to complete browser crashes, system instability, or even remote code execution depending on the exploitation vector. The vulnerability affects a significant portion of Chrome users across multiple platforms, making it an attractive target for malicious actors seeking to exploit the widespread browser usage. Organizations relying on Chrome for document viewing and web browsing operations faced substantial risk exposure, particularly in environments where users might encounter untrusted PDF content from unknown sources.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to the secure releases mentioned in the advisory. System administrators should prioritize updating all Chrome installations across all supported platforms to versions 21.0.1180.57 or later for Mac and Linux, and 21.0.1180.60 or later for Windows systems and Chrome Frame. Additional protective measures include implementing browser security policies that restrict PDF handling capabilities, deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious PDF content, and establishing user awareness programs to prevent opening untrusted documents. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms and privilege separation techniques to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which addresses use-after-free conditions, and represents a common attack pattern categorized under the ATT&CK framework as a privilege escalation technique through browser exploitation.