CVE-2012-2887 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 involving onclick events.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/14/2021
The CVE-2012-2887 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 22.0.1229.79 that demonstrates the severe consequences of memory management errors in web browsers. This vulnerability specifically targets the browser's handling of onclick events, which are fundamental components of web page interactivity and user interface functionality. The flaw occurs when the browser's JavaScript engine fails to properly manage memory allocation and deallocation for objects associated with onclick event handlers, creating a scenario where freed memory can be accessed and potentially manipulated by malicious actors. Such memory corruption vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can lead to arbitrary code execution or system compromise when exploited correctly.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the CWE-416 category of use-after-free conditions, which is classified as a common weakness in software security. When an onclick event handler is processed, the browser allocates memory for the event object and associated data structures. However, due to improper memory management, the browser may free this memory while still maintaining references to it, creating a use-after-free condition. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious web pages that trigger specific onclick event sequences, causing the browser to access freed memory locations. This memory corruption can manifest in various ways including crashes, data corruption, or potentially more severe impacts when combined with other exploitation techniques.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to end users who may encounter malicious websites while browsing the internet. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the target system or any special privileges to carry out attacks. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service, as indicated by the "possibly have unspecified other impact" description in the CVE entry, suggesting potential for more sophisticated attacks. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The widespread adoption of Google Chrome as a primary web browser amplifies the potential impact, as millions of users could be exposed to this vulnerability.
The exploitation of CVE-2012-2887 aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to initial access and privilege escalation. The vulnerability enables attackers to establish a foothold on target systems through web-based attacks, which fall under the initial access category. The use-after-free condition can be leveraged to execute malicious payloads, potentially leading to privilege escalation and persistent access to compromised systems. Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a critical component of browser security testing, particularly in environments where users frequently access untrusted websites. The vulnerability underscores the importance of keeping web browsers updated with the latest security patches and implementing additional security measures such as sandboxing and content filtering to mitigate potential exploitation attempts.
Organizations and individual users should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to Google Chrome version 22.0.1229.79 or later, which contains the necessary memory management fixes to prevent the use-after-free condition. Additional defensive measures include implementing browser security policies that restrict access to potentially malicious websites, enabling sandboxing features, and deploying intrusion detection systems that monitor for suspicious web-based activity. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper memory management in software development, particularly for widely used applications like web browsers that handle untrusted input from multiple sources. Regular security audits and penetration testing should include thorough examination of event handling mechanisms to identify and prevent similar use-after-free conditions that could compromise system integrity and user security.