CVE-2012-5111 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 22.0.1229.92 does not monitor for crashes of Pepper plug-ins, which has unspecified impact and remote attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5111 affects Google Chrome versions prior to 22.0.1229.92 and relates to the browser's handling of Pepper plug-ins, which are Google's plugin architecture for web content. This flaw represents a critical oversight in Chrome's crash monitoring mechanisms specifically designed for Pepper plug-ins, which are used to deliver rich media content and other interactive web features. The vulnerability stems from Chrome's failure to properly track or respond to crashes occurring within the Pepper plug-in execution environment, creating a potential security gap that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in the absence of proper crash detection and handling for Pepper plug-ins, which are implemented as separate processes running outside the main browser process. When a Pepper plug-in crashes, the browser should ideally detect this event and take appropriate action such as terminating the plugin process, logging the crash, or implementing recovery mechanisms. However, Chrome 22.0.1229.92 and earlier versions failed to monitor these plugin crashes, allowing potentially malicious or unstable plug-ins to continue operating without proper oversight. This lack of monitoring creates a persistent security risk where compromised plug-ins could maintain access to system resources or continue executing malicious code without the browser's knowledge or intervention.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser instability, as it creates potential attack vectors that could be leveraged by remote adversaries. According to CWE-476, this vulnerability represents a NULL pointer dereference or improper handling of plugin processes, which could allow attackers to exploit the browser's failure to monitor plug-in stability. The unspecified impact mentioned in the CVE description suggests that the consequences could range from denial of service conditions to more severe exploitation scenarios where persistent malware or persistent access could be maintained through compromised plug-ins. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because Pepper plug-ins are commonly used for multimedia content, gaming, and other interactive web applications, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to establish persistent presence within user systems.
The remote attack vectors enabled by this vulnerability align with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the use of scripting languages for execution, as malicious actors could potentially leverage unstable plug-ins to execute arbitrary code or maintain persistence within the browser environment. The vulnerability essentially creates a window of opportunity for attackers to exploit the lack of crash monitoring by introducing malicious plug-ins that crash in ways that bypass normal browser security mechanisms. This allows for potential privilege escalation, data exfiltration, or establishment of backdoors through the compromised plug-in processes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5111 primarily focus on updating to Chrome version 22.0.1229.92 or later, which includes proper crash monitoring for Pepper plug-ins. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all browser installations are current with security updates. Additional defensive measures include disabling unnecessary plug-ins, implementing strict content security policies, and monitoring for unusual browser behavior that might indicate plugin-related issues. Network administrators should consider deploying web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems to monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The fix implemented in Chrome 22.0.1229.92 addresses the core issue by adding proper crash detection mechanisms that monitor Pepper plug-in stability and ensure appropriate system responses when crashes occur, thereby preventing the exploitation of this monitoring gap.