CVE-2012-5121 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 23.0.1271.64 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to video layout.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5121 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 23.0.1271.64 that specifically manifests during video layout processing operations. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating a dangerous state where subsequent operations can corrupt memory or execute arbitrary code. The issue is particularly concerning because it can be exploited remotely through web-based vectors, making it a significant threat to user security and system integrity.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies within Chrome's handling of video layout calculations and rendering processes. When processing certain video content, the browser's rendering engine encounters a scenario where memory allocated for video layout structures is freed while still being referenced by ongoing operations. This creates a use-after-free condition that can be manipulated by remote attackers to execute malicious code or cause system instability. The flaw specifically impacts the browser's video processing pipeline, where layout calculations for multimedia content are handled, making it particularly dangerous in web environments where users frequently encounter multimedia content.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents multiple threat vectors that can lead to severe consequences for affected systems. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to trigger denial of service conditions that effectively crash the browser or render the system unstable, disrupting user productivity and potentially providing a foothold for more sophisticated attacks. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the CVE description suggest that this vulnerability may also enable privilege escalation or code execution capabilities that could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources. The remote exploitability means that users do not need to take any special actions to be vulnerable, as simply visiting a malicious website could trigger the attack vector.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations. The attack pattern corresponds to techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers can potentially execute arbitrary code through browser-based exploits. Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment to mitigate this risk, as Chrome versions prior to 23.0.1271.64 are no longer supported and lack security updates. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and implementing network security controls to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. Additionally, browser sandboxing mechanisms that were being developed during this timeframe would later become standard security practices to contain the impact of such vulnerabilities, though they were not yet fully mature in the affected Chrome versions.