CVE-2012-5149 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the audio IPC layer in Google Chrome before 24.0.1312.52 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-5149 represents a critical integer overflow condition within the audio inter-process communication layer of Google Chrome browser versions prior to 24.0.1312.52. This flaw exists in the core audio processing infrastructure that facilitates communication between different processes within the browser architecture, specifically affecting how audio data is handled during inter-process communication operations. The integer overflow occurs when the audio IPC layer processes certain malformed or specially crafted audio data structures that cause arithmetic operations to exceed the maximum representable value for integer data types, leading to unpredictable behavior in the system's memory management and process execution flow.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the inherent weaknesses in how Chrome's audio subsystem handles buffer size calculations and memory allocation during IPC operations. When malicious actors craft audio content that triggers integer overflow conditions, the system's ability to properly manage memory boundaries becomes compromised, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate the execution flow of the browser process. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which specifically addresses situations where integer arithmetic operations produce results that exceed the maximum value that can be represented by the data type, leading to unexpected program behavior. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service as the integer overflow could potentially be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause more severe system instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to end users and organizations relying on Google Chrome as their primary web browser. Attackers can leverage this flaw through various attack vectors including malicious websites, crafted media files, or compromised web applications that deliver audio content designed to trigger the integer overflow condition. The remote exploitation capability means that users do not need to perform any specific actions beyond visiting a compromised website or downloading malicious media content for the attack to succeed. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that beyond simple denial of service, attackers might be able to achieve privilege escalation, information disclosure, or complete system compromise depending on the specific conditions under which the overflow occurs.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2012-5149 primarily involves immediate patching of affected Chrome browser versions to 24.0.1312.52 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to prevent integer overflow conditions in the audio IPC layer. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies to ensure all systems are running patched versions, as well as consider deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious audio content patterns. Security teams should also monitor for any reported exploitation attempts and implement browser hardening measures such as sandboxing configurations and restricted content execution policies. Additionally, user education regarding safe browsing practices and the importance of keeping software updated remains crucial in defending against this class of vulnerabilities. The fix implemented by Google addressed the underlying integer overflow by introducing proper bounds checking and validation mechanisms within the audio IPC subsystem, ensuring that all buffer size calculations and memory allocation operations properly handle edge cases and prevent arithmetic overflow conditions from occurring during normal operation.