CVE-2008-1762 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Opera before 9.27 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted scaled image pattern in an HTML CANVAS element, which triggers memory corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/31/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-1762 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Opera web browsers prior to version 9.27, specifically affecting the handling of HTML CANVAS elements. This issue arises from insufficient input validation when processing scaled image patterns within the canvas rendering context, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit the browser's memory management system. The vulnerability operates through a carefully crafted HTML document that includes a CANVAS element with malformed scaled image data, which when processed by the browser's rendering engine triggers unpredictable memory behavior.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of image scaling parameters within the CANVAS element's drawing context, where Opera's graphics rendering subsystem fails to properly validate the dimensions and scaling factors of image patterns. When the browser attempts to render these malformed scaled images, it encounters memory corruption conditions that can result in program crashes or more severely, arbitrary code execution. The flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking and memory allocation routines within the browser's graphics processing pipeline, particularly when handling image transformations and scaling operations. This memory corruption occurs during the canvas rendering process where the browser allocates memory for scaled image data without sufficient validation of the input parameters.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-1762 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution, making it a severe security concern for affected users. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in vulnerable Opera versions, will cause the browser to crash or potentially allow arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the browser. The vulnerability affects users who visit compromised websites or click on malicious links that deliver the crafted HTML content. This makes it particularly dangerous in phishing attacks or when users browse untrusted websites. The memory corruption can manifest in various ways including stack overflows, heap corruption, or pointer dereference errors that can be leveraged to execute malicious payloads.
The vulnerability maps to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-122, which covers buffer overflow vulnerabilities, both of which are present in the memory handling aspects of this issue. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1203, which involves exploitation of remote services, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreter usage, as the arbitrary code execution capability would allow attackers to run malicious commands. The attack surface is particularly wide since the vulnerability affects web browsing activities that are fundamental to internet usage, making it a prime target for mass exploitation campaigns. Organizations and individuals using affected Opera versions should immediately implement mitigations including browser updates, network-based filtering, and user awareness training to prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in browser implementations, particularly in graphics rendering components where complex mathematical operations and memory management intersect.