CVE-2012-5145 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 24.0.1312.52 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to SVG layout.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2021
The CVE-2012-5145 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 24.0.1312.52 that specifically targets the Scalable Vector Graphics rendering engine. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, where memory that has been deallocated is still referenced by the application, creating potential for arbitrary code execution or system instability. The flaw manifests during SVG layout processing when the browser handles certain malformed vector graphics elements, creating a scenario where freed memory blocks are accessed after being returned to the system heap.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when Chrome processes specially crafted SVG content that triggers an improper memory management sequence. During the layout calculation phase of SVG elements, the browser's rendering engine allocates memory for various graphical components and subsequently frees this memory when the element is no longer needed. However, in this specific case, the application fails to properly invalidate references to the freed memory blocks, allowing an attacker to manipulate the system into accessing this already-released memory space. This can result in memory corruption that may be leveraged to execute malicious code or cause a complete browser crash.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-5145 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution in the context of the browser process. Attackers can craft malicious web pages containing specially formatted SVG elements that, when rendered by the vulnerable Chrome version, trigger the use-after-free condition. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because SVG elements are commonly used in web applications and can be embedded directly in HTML documents without requiring special plugins or user interaction. The attack surface is broad as any web page displaying SVG content could potentially serve as an exploitation vector, making this a significant threat to web browser security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5145 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates, with Google releasing version 24.0.1312.52 to address the vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all instances of Chrome are updated to versions containing the necessary memory management fixes. Additional protective measures include browser hardening configurations such as enabling sandboxing features, implementing content security policies, and restricting SVG content from untrusted sources. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques involving memory corruption exploits and privilege escalation, making it a critical component in the adversary's toolkit for gaining unauthorized access to user systems. Network administrators should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious SVG content patterns that may indicate attempted exploitation of this vulnerability.