CVE-2006-3353 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Opera 9 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a crafted web page that triggers an out-of-bounds memory access, related to an iframe and JavaScript that accesses certain style sheets properties.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-3353 represents a critical memory safety issue affecting Opera 9 web browser versions. This flaw manifests as a remote denial of service condition that can be exploited through carefully crafted web content, specifically targeting the browser's handling of iframe elements combined with JavaScript operations on stylesheet properties. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory management and web rendering, creating a scenario where legitimate web page elements can trigger unexpected browser behavior leading to application crashes.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves out-of-bounds memory access conditions that occur when Opera 9 processes certain combinations of iframe elements and JavaScript operations targeting CSS stylesheet properties. When a malicious web page constructs iframe content with specific JavaScript calls that access style sheet attributes, the browser's memory management system fails to properly validate the boundaries of memory access operations. This results in the browser attempting to read or write data beyond the allocated memory regions, causing the application to crash and terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation and memory boundary checking within the browser's rendering engine.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users who may encounter malicious web content while browsing the internet. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can trigger the denial of service condition without requiring local access to the target system, making it particularly dangerous in web-based attack scenarios. Users engaging with untrusted websites or receiving malicious emails with embedded web content could experience unexpected browser crashes, potentially disrupting their workflow and creating opportunities for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability impacts the browser's stability and reliability, which can lead to data loss or interruption of critical web-based activities.
The security implications extend beyond simple denial of service to potential exploitation for more advanced attack vectors. This type of memory corruption vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services through memory corruption. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader threat landscape where initial access might be gained through seemingly benign web browsing activities. The flaw represents a weakness in the browser's defensive programming practices and highlights the importance of robust memory management in client-side applications.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of Opera 9 installations to address the underlying memory access issues. System administrators should implement web filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains and monitor for suspicious web content patterns. Browser vendors should enhance their memory safety mechanisms through improved bounds checking and input validation procedures. Regular security updates and vulnerability assessments should be conducted to identify similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in other browser components. Users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of maintaining current browser versions to protect against known security flaws.