CVE-2012-4146 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Opera before 12.01 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted web site, as demonstrated by the Lenovo "Shop now" page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/07/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4146 represents a denial of service flaw affecting Opera web browsers versions prior to 12.01. This security issue demonstrates how seemingly benign web content can be weaponized to disrupt browser functionality and compromise user experience. The vulnerability was particularly significant as it was exploited through a crafted website that could trigger application instability, with the Lenovo "Shop now" page serving as a concrete demonstration of the attack vector.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of malformed or malicious web content within the Opera browser rendering engine. When users navigate to a specially crafted website, the browser processes certain elements in a way that leads to memory corruption or unexpected behavior within the application's execution environment. This flaw likely involves memory management issues or improper input validation that causes the browser process to terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability operates at the application level rather than at the system or network level, making it a client-side exploit that requires user interaction to be effective.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4146 extends beyond simple browser instability, as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks. When a browser crashes due to this vulnerability, it can disrupt user productivity and create opportunities for further exploitation. The fact that this vulnerability was demonstrated against a legitimate commercial website like Lenovo's "Shop now" page indicates that attackers could leverage trusted domains to deliver malicious content, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation. This type of attack falls under the category of user interaction required exploits where social engineering plays a significant role in the attack success.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and potentially CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read errors. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1203, which involves legitimate user interaction to execute malicious code through web browsers. The vulnerability's exploitation requires users to visit a malicious website, making it a prime example of client-side attack vectors that rely on user behavior modification to succeed.
Organizations and individuals should immediately update to Opera 12.01 or later versions to remediate this vulnerability. System administrators should consider implementing web filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious content, particularly from domains known to be compromised. The remediation process should include comprehensive browser updates across all user devices, along with user education about the risks of visiting untrusted websites. Additionally, security monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual browser crash patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar issues in other browser components and ensure that all web-based applications maintain current security patches to prevent similar denial of service scenarios.