CVE-2012-2878 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 22.0.1229.79 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to plug-in handling.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2021
The CVE-2012-2878 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 22.0.1229.79 that specifically targets the browser's plugin handling mechanisms. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which classifies use-after-free conditions as a fundamental memory safety issue where a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed. The flaw manifests during the processing of browser plugins, particularly when the plugin architecture fails to properly manage memory allocation and deallocation cycles, creating opportunities for malicious actors to exploit the system's memory management.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when Chrome's plugin subsystem processes certain plugin objects that are subsequently freed from memory while still being referenced by other components. Attackers can craft malicious web content that triggers the plugin handling code path, causing the browser to execute code that manipulates freed memory locations. This manipulation can lead to arbitrary code execution, memory corruption, or denial of service conditions that effectively crash the browser process. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can deliver malicious payloads through web pages without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users who browse the internet regularly, as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable full system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques. The vulnerability's potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that attackers may leverage it as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks, potentially leading to privilege escalation or persistent system compromise. Organizations relying on Chrome for business operations face substantial risk from this vulnerability, particularly in environments where users access untrusted web content regularly.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2878 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 22.0.1229.79 or later, which contain patches addressing the memory management issues in plugin handling. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include enabling Chrome's sandboxing features, implementing content filtering solutions, and deploying web application firewalls to detect and block malicious plugin-related requests. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as exploitation may involve executing malicious code through compromised plugin interfaces. Organizations should also consider implementing browser hardening measures, such as disabling unnecessary plugins and restricting plugin execution to trusted domains only, to reduce the attack surface and limit potential exploitation success rates.