CVE-2012-2860 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The date-picker implementation 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, allows user-assisted 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-2012-2860 represents a critical flaw in Google Chrome's date-picker component that affected multiple operating systems and platform variants. This issue specifically targeted the web browser's implementation of date selection interfaces, which are commonly used across web applications for user input and form completion. The vulnerability was particularly concerning because it could be exploited through malicious websites, making it a significant threat to user safety and system integrity. The affected versions included Chrome 21.0.1180.57 and earlier on Mac OS X and Linux platforms, as well as Windows versions prior to 21.0.1180.60 and Chrome Frame implementations.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation and memory handling within Chrome's date-picker user interface component. Attackers could craft malicious web pages that would trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption when the date-picker interface was rendered or interacted with by users. This flaw falls under the category of software defects that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability, representing a classic example of a memory safety vulnerability. The implementation likely failed to properly sanitize user inputs or handle edge cases in date format parsing, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate the browser's internal state through carefully constructed web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2860 extended beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution and system compromise. Users who visited malicious websites while using affected Chrome versions would face significant risks, as the vulnerability could be exploited without requiring any special privileges or complex attack vectors. This made it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users might inadvertently visit compromised sites or where social engineering attacks could lead to exploitation. The vulnerability affected a substantial user base given Chrome's widespread adoption across different platforms, amplifying its potential impact on overall cybersecurity posture.
The remediation for this vulnerability required immediate updates to Chrome browser versions, with Google releasing patches to address the memory handling issues in the date-picker implementation. Organizations needed to implement rapid deployment strategies to update affected systems and ensure user safety across their networks. Security professionals recommended maintaining updated browser versions as a critical defense mechanism against similar vulnerabilities, while also implementing web filtering and monitoring solutions to detect potentially malicious content. This vulnerability highlighted the importance of regular security updates and the need for robust input validation in user interface components, particularly those handling user-provided data in web browsers. The incident reinforced industry best practices around vulnerability management and the critical role of browser vendors in maintaining secure software implementations.