CVE-2012-5376 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The Inter-process Communication (IPC) implementation in Google Chrome before 22.0.1229.94 allows remote attackers to bypass intended sandbox restrictions and write to arbitrary files by leveraging access to a renderer process, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-5112.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-5376 represents a critical sandbox escape flaw within Google Chrome's inter-process communication mechanism. This vulnerability specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 22.0.1229.94 and demonstrates how improper access controls in the browser's architecture can be exploited to undermine the fundamental security model designed to isolate different processes. The issue stems from the IPC implementation that governs how Chrome's various processes communicate with each other, particularly between the renderer process and other browser components.
The technical flaw manifests when an attacker gains access to a renderer process and leverages this foothold to bypass intended sandbox restrictions. This allows the malicious actor to write to arbitrary files on the victim's system, effectively breaking out of the restricted environment that should normally contain renderer processes. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector that exploits the trust relationships within Chrome's multi-process architecture, where the renderer process should be isolated from the filesystem but can be manipulated to gain elevated privileges through improper IPC handling.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a severe threat landscape for Chrome users as it enables attackers to perform file system operations that should be restricted to the browser's own processes. The ability to write arbitrary files opens the door to numerous malicious activities including payload delivery, persistence mechanisms, and system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install malware, modify system files, or establish backdoors without requiring additional privileges or exploiting other vulnerabilities in the system. The attack scenario typically involves a user visiting a malicious website that triggers the vulnerability through a specially crafted exploit in the renderer process.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including privilege escalation and persistence mechanisms, as attackers can use the sandbox escape to establish more persistent access to the compromised system. This issue is particularly concerning because it represents a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-5112, indicating that Chrome's sandbox implementation had multiple weak points that could be exploited through different attack vectors. Organizations should note that this vulnerability affects not just individual users but also enterprise environments where Chrome is widely deployed, making it a significant concern for security teams managing large-scale browser deployments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-5376 focus primarily on immediate patching of Chrome to version 22.0.1229.94 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the IPC implementation flaws. System administrators should also implement additional security measures such as monitoring for unusual file system activity from browser processes and deploying application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized file modifications. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and demonstrates how sandbox mechanisms, while effective when properly implemented, can be undermined by implementation flaws in core system components. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections and browser hardening measures to reduce the attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.
This vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-276, which addresses improper privileges and access controls in software implementations, and represents a clear example of how insufficient access control mechanisms can lead to privilege escalation and system compromise. The technical nature of the flaw underscores the complexity of modern browser security architectures and the critical importance of rigorous security testing and code review processes for core components that handle inter-process communication and privilege management.