CVE-2012-2853 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The webRequest API 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 interact with the Chrome Web Store, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2853 represents a critical flaw in Google Chrome's webRequest API implementation across multiple operating systems and platforms. This security weakness specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 21.0.1180.57 on macOS and Linux systems, and before 21.0.1180.60 on Windows systems and Chrome Frame components. The issue stems from improper interaction between the webRequest API and the Chrome Web Store functionality, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by remote threat actors.
The technical flaw manifests in how Chrome's webRequest API handles requests originating from or interacting with the Chrome Web Store. When a malicious website crafts specific requests that exploit this improper interaction, the browser's handling mechanism can become unstable or crash entirely. This behavior constitutes a denial of service condition that can disrupt normal browser operations and potentially provide attackers with opportunities for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the description indicates potential for unspecified other impacts, suggesting the possibility of privilege escalation or additional security breaches.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for users who may inadvertently visit compromised websites while browsing the web. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it leverages the Chrome Web Store's legitimate functionality to execute malicious payloads that can cause browsers to crash or behave unpredictably. This type of vulnerability is especially dangerous in enterprise environments where Chrome is widely deployed, as a single compromised website could potentially affect multiple users simultaneously. The cross-platform nature of the vulnerability means that organizations cannot simply patch one operating system to resolve the issue, requiring comprehensive patch management across all supported platforms.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses "Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer" and reflects patterns commonly found in browser security issues that stem from improper handling of API interactions. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under the MITRE ATT&CK framework's T1211 - Exploitation for Privilege Escalation and T1499 - Endpoint Denial of Service, as it enables attackers to cause system instability and potentially gain unauthorized access to system resources. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions and implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary APIs and implementing strict content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against this and similar vulnerabilities.