CVE-2012-5137 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 23.0.1271.95 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to the Media Source API.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/19/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5137 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Google Chrome's implementation of the Media Source API, affecting versions prior to 23.0.1271.95. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating potential exploitation vectors for remote attackers. The Media Source API is a web standard that enables JavaScript applications to dynamically generate and manipulate media streams, making it a critical component for multimedia functionality on web platforms. The flaw specifically manifests in how Chrome handles memory management during the processing of media source objects, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory states through crafted web content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within CWE-416, which defines use-after-free conditions as a common class of memory safety issues. When an attacker can trigger the freeing of memory while still maintaining references to it, they may be able to manipulate the contents of that memory or redirect execution flow. In the context of Chrome's Media Source API implementation, this occurs during the handling of media source extensions and associated data structures that manage streaming media content. The vulnerability allows for arbitrary code execution in some scenarios, though the primary impact demonstrated was denial of service, which could be leveraged to crash the browser or potentially provide a foothold for more sophisticated attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5137 extends beyond simple service disruption, as it represents a significant security risk for users of affected Chrome versions. The Media Source API is widely used for video streaming, audio processing, and other multimedia applications, meaning that exploitation could occur through common web browsing activities. Attackers could craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in Chrome, would trigger the use-after-free condition and potentially execute malicious code with the privileges of the browser process. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers scripting through web-based attacks, and T1203, which involves exploitation of remote services through web browsers. The attack surface is particularly concerning given Chrome's widespread adoption and the API's integration with modern web applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Chrome installations to version 23.0.1271.95 or later, as this represents the first version that properly addresses the memory management issues within the Media Source API implementation. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies and consider deploying automated patch management systems to ensure timely remediation across all endpoints. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious media source API usage patterns, as well as monitoring for unusual browser behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider deploying sandboxing technologies that limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, though these measures provide only partial protection given the nature of use-after-free vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in browser implementations and highlights the need for continuous security auditing of web platform APIs.