CVE-2012-2854 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 21.0.1180.57 on Mac OS X and Linux, and before 21.0.1180.60 on Windows and Chrome Frame, allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information about pointer values by leveraging access to a WebUI renderer process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/27/2021
This vulnerability affects Google Chrome versions prior to specific patches on multiple operating systems including Mac OS X, Linux, Windows, and Chrome Frame. The issue stems from insufficient memory protection mechanisms within the browser's renderer process that handles WebUI components. Attackers can exploit this weakness to extract pointer values from memory locations that should remain protected, potentially revealing sensitive information about the browser's internal memory layout and structure.
The technical flaw resides in the improper handling of memory addresses within the WebUI renderer process where Chrome fails to adequately sanitize or obscure pointer references. This allows remote attackers to perform memory analysis techniques that can reveal the base addresses of memory segments, heap locations, and other sensitive pointer information. The vulnerability specifically impacts the browser's ability to maintain memory isolation between different processes and components, creating a potential information disclosure vector.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure as it provides attackers with valuable insights into the browser's memory architecture that could be leveraged in subsequent attacks. When combined with other exploitation techniques, this pointer leak could enable more sophisticated attacks such as heap spraying, return-oriented programming, or other memory corruption exploits. The vulnerability affects all versions of Chrome prior to the specified patch releases, making it a widespread concern for users running outdated browser versions.
Organizations and individuals should immediately upgrade to Chrome versions 21.0.1180.57 or later for Mac OS X and Linux, and 21.0.1180.60 or later for Windows and Chrome Frame. System administrators should implement patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual memory access patterns or information disclosure attempts that might indicate exploitation of this vulnerability. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through web-based interfaces, while also supporting T1068 for privilege escalation through memory corruption techniques.