CVE-2012-2893 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Double free vulnerability in libxslt, as used 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 XSL transforms.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-2893 represents a critical double free condition within the libxslt library implementation that was extensively utilized by Google Chrome browser versions prior to 22.0.1229.79. This flaw resides in the XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) processing capabilities that enable dynamic transformation of XML documents into various formats including HTML, text, or other XML structures. The double free vulnerability occurs when the same memory block is deallocated twice through different code paths, creating a scenario where memory management structures become corrupted and potentially exploitable. Such conditions are particularly dangerous because they can lead to unpredictable behavior in the application's memory management subsystem, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the inherent characteristics of XSLT processing within the browser environment where maliciously crafted XSLT stylesheets can trigger the double free condition during document transformation operations. When Chrome processes an XSLT transformation that contains crafted malicious elements, the libxslt library fails to properly track memory allocations and deallocations, resulting in the same memory chunk being freed twice. This memory corruption can manifest as program crashes leading to denial of service conditions, or potentially more severe impacts including arbitrary code execution depending on the specific memory layout and exploitation techniques employed by attackers. The vulnerability specifically affects the memory management routines within libxslt's internal processing engine, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through standard security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-2893 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable sophisticated attack vectors that could compromise browser security boundaries. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to disrupt browser functionality, force application crashes, or in more advanced exploitation scenarios, potentially execute arbitrary code within the browser's memory space. This represents a significant threat to user security as it allows remote attackers to manipulate browser behavior without requiring local system access. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread use of XSLT processing within web applications and the fact that Chrome's implementation of libxslt was vulnerable across multiple operating systems and platforms. Security researchers have classified this vulnerability as particularly concerning due to its potential for remote code execution, making it a prime target for zero-day exploits in the cybersecurity landscape.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-2893 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions that include patched libxslt libraries and memory management improvements. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all affected Chrome installations receive timely updates. Additionally, browser hardening techniques including sandboxing mechanisms, memory protection features, and strict content filtering can provide layered defense against exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-415 which specifically addresses double free conditions in memory management, and represents a classic example of how library vulnerabilities can propagate through software ecosystems. Security practitioners should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious XSLT processing patterns and monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this specific memory corruption vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under privilege escalation and denial of service tactics, emphasizing its potential for both system disruption and unauthorized access scenarios that require immediate remediation.