CVE-2004-1201 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Opera 7.54 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash from memory exhaustion), as demonstrated using Javascript code that continuously creates nested arrays and then sorts the newly created arrays.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/21/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1201 represents a critical memory management flaw in Opera version 7.54 that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through crafted javascript code. This vulnerability operates at the application level and specifically targets the browser's javascript engine memory allocation mechanisms. The flaw manifests when malicious javascript code continuously creates deeply nested arrays and subsequently sorts these arrays, leading to excessive memory consumption that ultimately causes the browser application to crash and become unavailable to users.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the inadequate memory management and bounds checking within Opera's javascript implementation. When the browser processes javascript code that creates nested arrays and performs sorting operations, the memory allocation algorithm fails to properly handle the exponential growth of memory requirements. This creates a memory exhaustion condition where the application consumes all available memory resources, resulting in an application crash. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-400 as an unspecified vulnerability in resource management, specifically related to memory exhaustion. The attack vector requires remote code execution through web content, making it particularly dangerous as users can trigger the exploit simply by visiting a malicious webpage containing the crafted javascript payload.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application disruption to potentially compromise user productivity and system availability. When exploited, the vulnerability causes immediate application instability that requires manual intervention to restore normal browser functionality. Users may experience complete browser shutdowns, forcing them to restart their applications and potentially lose unsaved work. The vulnerability affects all users running Opera 7.54 regardless of their security awareness or system configuration, making it a significant risk for organizations relying on this browser version. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability represents a low-effort, high-impact method for disrupting user experience and potentially serving as a precursor to more sophisticated attacks targeting user systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action through software updates and browser version upgrades. Users should upgrade to Opera version 8.0 or later where the memory management issues have been resolved through improved javascript engine implementations. Organizations should implement browser security policies that enforce automatic updates and restrict access to untrusted websites until the vulnerability is patched. Network administrators can deploy web application firewalls that detect and block javascript code patterns associated with this specific vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under T1499 as a denial of service attack, specifically targeting application availability. System administrators should also implement monitoring solutions that detect unusual memory consumption patterns and alert security teams to potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping browsers updated remains crucial for comprehensive protection against this and similar vulnerabilities.