CVE-2012-4551 in libunity-webapps
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in libunity-webapps before 2.4.1 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted web site, related to "certain hash tables."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/20/2021
The CVE-2012-4551 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in the libunity-webapps library, which serves as a component for integrating web applications within the Ubuntu Unity desktop environment. This vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to 2.4.1 and demonstrates how seemingly innocuous web content can be weaponized to compromise system stability and potentially execute malicious code. The flaw resides in the library's handling of certain hash tables, which are fundamental data structures used for efficient data retrieval and storage in software applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices within the libunity-webapps library. When processing web content, the library fails to properly validate or manage the lifecycle of memory objects associated with hash table operations. This creates a scenario where memory that has been freed and deallocated can still be accessed or referenced by subsequent operations, leading to unpredictable behavior. The use-after-free condition occurs when the application attempts to access memory that was previously released, which can result in memory corruption and system instability. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 as "Use After Free" and represents a common yet dangerous class of memory safety issues.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-4551 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution, making it particularly dangerous in threat scenarios. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in a browser or web application integrated with libunity-webapps, trigger the vulnerable code path. The memory corruption resulting from the use-after-free condition can be exploited to redirect program execution flow, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code on the target system. This vulnerability affects the broader Ubuntu desktop environment and could impact users who browse the web or interact with web applications that utilize the affected library. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no local privileges and can be delivered through standard web browsing activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-4551 primarily focus on updating the affected libunity-webapps library to version 2.4.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory management issues. System administrators should prioritize updating their Ubuntu installations and ensuring all web applications that depend on libunity-webapps are also updated. Additional protective measures include implementing web content filtering and sandboxing mechanisms, as well as monitoring for suspicious memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving remote code execution through web-based attacks and memory corruption exploits. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation and endpoint protection solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability class. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that updates do not introduce compatibility issues with existing web applications while maintaining the security posture against this and similar memory safety vulnerabilities.