CVE-2012-5120 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google V8 before 3.13.7.5, as used in Google Chrome before 23.0.1271.64, on 64-bit Linux platforms allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted JavaScript code that triggers an out-of-bounds access to an array.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5120 represents a critical out-of-bounds memory access flaw within Google V8 JavaScript engine version 3.13.7.4 and earlier, which was integrated into Google Chrome browser versions prior to 23.0.1271.64 on 64-bit Linux systems. This vulnerability resides in the JavaScript engine's handling of array operations and demonstrates a classic memory safety issue that can be exploited by malicious actors to compromise system integrity. The flaw specifically manifests when the V8 engine processes crafted JavaScript code that attempts to access array elements beyond their allocated memory boundaries, creating potential attack vectors for remote code execution or denial of service conditions.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a memory corruption vulnerability that can be leveraged through the browser's JavaScript interpreter. When a malicious actor crafts specific JavaScript code that triggers array boundary violations, the V8 engine fails to properly validate array indices, leading to memory access beyond allocated bounds. This condition can result in unpredictable behavior including application crashes, memory corruption, or potentially more severe consequences such as arbitrary code execution. The 64-bit Linux platform restriction suggests that the vulnerability may be platform-specific due to differences in memory management and addressing schemes between 32-bit and 64-bit architectures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios as it can potentially enable remote code execution when exploited in conjunction with other techniques such as heap spraying or return-oriented programming attacks. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code on victim machines with the privileges of the browser process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that users can be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites or opening specially crafted web content, making it particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios. Browser-based attacks leveraging such vulnerabilities represent a significant threat vector since they can bypass traditional network security controls and directly target end-user systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5120 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions containing patched V8 engine components, specifically Chrome 23.0.1271.64 and later. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems are updated promptly, as the vulnerability affects widely used browser installations. Additional defensive measures include implementing browser hardening configurations, enabling sandboxing features, and deploying content security policies to limit the execution of potentially malicious JavaScript code. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can provide additional layers of defense, though they cannot fully compensate for the underlying memory safety issue. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for suspicious JavaScript execution patterns and conducting regular vulnerability assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of keeping browser components updated and demonstrates how JavaScript engine vulnerabilities can have far-reaching consequences across entire operating system ecosystems.