CVE-2008-7246 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome 0.2.149.29 and earlier allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (unusable browser) by calling the window.print function in a loop, aka a "printing DoS attack," possibly a related issue to CVE-2009-0821.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/19/2025
This vulnerability represents a denial of service condition in Google Chrome browser version 0.2.149.29 and earlier, where remote attackers can exploit a flaw in the window.print function implementation. The attack vector involves repeatedly calling the window.print function in a loop, which causes the browser to become unresponsive and effectively unusable. This specific weakness falls under the category of resource exhaustion attacks where the browser's printing subsystem becomes overwhelmed by continuous function calls, leading to system instability and complete browser unresponsiveness.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate input validation and resource management within Chrome's JavaScript execution environment. When the window.print function is invoked repeatedly in a loop, it triggers the browser's printing engine to process each call sequentially without proper rate limiting or resource throttling mechanisms. This behavior creates a scenario where the browser's rendering and printing threads become consumed, preventing normal browser operations from functioning correctly. The vulnerability demonstrates poor defensive programming practices where the browser fails to implement proper bounds checking or execution limits on potentially resource-intensive operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser disruption to encompass broader security implications for web application users. An attacker could exploit this weakness through malicious web pages loaded in Chrome, potentially affecting users who visit compromised websites or are subjected to drive-by downloads. The attack requires no special privileges or authentication, making it particularly dangerous as it can be executed remotely without user interaction beyond visiting a malicious site. This type of attack aligns with the common pattern of browser-based denial of service attacks that leverage legitimate browser functions to exhaust system resources.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient resource management and input validation in browser implementations. The issue relates to CWE-400, which covers "Uncontrolled Resource Consumption," and demonstrates how seemingly benign browser functions can be weaponized for malicious purposes. The attack pattern follows the ATT&CK technique T1499.004, "Network Denial of Service," where an adversary leverages browser vulnerabilities to disrupt normal operations. Additionally, this vulnerability shows the importance of implementing proper rate limiting and resource management in web browser engines to prevent abuse of legitimate functions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include implementing browser updates to versions that address the specific printing loop issue, configuring browser security policies to limit JavaScript execution time, and employing network-level firewalls to block malicious content. Users should maintain updated browser versions and avoid visiting untrusted websites. Security administrators can implement browser hardening measures and monitor for unusual printing activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix typically involves adding proper bounds checking to the window.print function implementation and implementing execution time limits for JavaScript functions to prevent resource exhaustion attacks.