CVE-2012-5138 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 23.0.1271.95 does not properly handle file paths, which has unspecified impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5138 affects Google Chrome versions prior to 23.0.1271.95 and relates to improper handling of file paths within the browser's architecture. This flaw represents a critical security weakness that could potentially allow attackers to exploit the browser's file system interaction mechanisms. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation and path handling, which are common attack vectors in web browsers where user-supplied data can influence file operations. The unspecified nature of the impact and attack vectors suggests that the flaw could enable various malicious activities depending on how the path handling error manifests within the browser's code execution flow.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from Chrome's inadequate sanitization and validation of file path inputs within its rendering engine and file access components. When processing file paths, the browser fails to properly validate or normalize user-supplied paths, potentially allowing malicious actors to craft specially formatted paths that could bypass normal security boundaries. This issue particularly affects how Chrome handles relative paths, directory traversal sequences, and special characters within file system references. The flaw likely exists in the browser's file system API interactions where path resolution occurs, potentially enabling attackers to manipulate file access operations through crafted web content or malicious file names.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5138 extends beyond simple path handling errors and could potentially enable attackers to perform unauthorized file system operations. Depending on the specific implementation details, this vulnerability might allow for directory traversal attacks, where attackers could access files outside of the intended browsing context. The attack surface includes scenarios where Chrome might be processing file uploads, handling local file references in web applications, or interacting with local file system resources through various browser APIs. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the browser's security model and could potentially enable privilege escalation or information disclosure attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-22, which describes improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, and represents a classic example of path traversal vulnerabilities in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5138 primarily focus on updating to the patched version of Google Chrome 23.0.1271.95 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper file path validation. System administrators should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all affected browser installations are updated. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious path sequences, configuring browser security policies to restrict file system access, and monitoring for unusual file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing browser hardening techniques such as sandboxing and privilege separation to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and path normalization in browser security implementations, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1070 for indicator removal on host. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar path handling vulnerabilities in other browser components and web applications.