CVE-2012-2886 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Google Chrome before 22.0.1229.79 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to the Google V8 bindings, aka "Universal XSS (UXSS)."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2886 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in Google Chrome browsers prior to version 22.0.1229.79, categorized under the Universal XSS (UXSS) attack vector. This vulnerability specifically exploits weaknesses in the Google V8 JavaScript engine bindings, which serve as the core execution environment for JavaScript within Chrome. The flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious web scripts or HTML content into web pages viewed by other users, effectively compromising the browser's security model and user sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of JavaScript object bindings within the V8 engine's memory management system. When Chrome processes JavaScript code that interacts with native objects through V8 bindings, the engine fails to properly validate or sanitize input parameters that could contain malicious payloads. This memory corruption issue allows attackers to manipulate the JavaScript execution environment in ways that bypass standard security mechanisms such as the same-origin policy and content security policies that typically protect against XSS attacks. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at a low-level system interface where JavaScript code interacts directly with browser internals, making it extremely difficult to detect and prevent through conventional security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond typical XSS attacks, as it can be exploited to perform sophisticated attacks that compromise entire user sessions and potentially lead to full system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to steal user credentials, session cookies, and sensitive information from web applications that users trust. The Universal XSS nature means that this flaw affects all websites and web applications running in the vulnerable Chrome version, regardless of the specific web application security measures in place. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly attractive to attackers who can create a single exploit that works across multiple targets, amplifying the potential damage significantly.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns and drive-by download scenarios. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome installations and implement additional security measures such as content security policy headers, input validation, and user education to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper memory management and input validation in JavaScript engines, serving as a reminder of the critical security implications of low-level system interfaces in modern web browsers.