CVE-2009-2537 in Konqueror
Summary
by MITRE
KDE Konqueror allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption) via a large integer value for the length property of a Select object, a related issue to CVE-2009-1692.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-2537 affects KDE Konqueror web browser and represents a denial of service weakness that can be exploited through crafted HTML content. This issue specifically targets the handling of Select objects within web pages, where a remote attacker can manipulate the length property to trigger excessive memory consumption. The vulnerability operates by leveraging the browser's insufficient input validation mechanisms when processing HTML form elements, particularly those involving dynamic selection lists.
The technical flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking and input sanitization within Konqueror's HTML parser and rendering engine. When the browser encounters a Select element with an unusually large integer value specified for its length property, the application fails to properly validate this input before attempting to allocate memory resources. This allows an attacker to cause the browser to consume excessive system memory, potentially leading to application instability or complete system resource exhaustion. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-129 Input Validation and is related to the broader class of buffer overflow and memory corruption issues that have historically plagued web browsers.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple service disruption as it can be leveraged in various attack scenarios. An attacker could craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in Konqueror, would cause progressive memory consumption until the browser becomes unresponsive or crashes entirely. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users may be诱导 to visit compromised websites or where the browser is used in automated testing scenarios. The attack requires no special privileges and can be executed through standard web browsing activities, making it a significant risk for both individual users and enterprise environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-2537 should focus on implementing robust input validation and memory management practices within the browser. System administrators should ensure that Konqueror is updated to versions that address this vulnerability through proper bounds checking mechanisms. Additionally, web content filtering solutions can be deployed to block or sanitize HTML content that contains suspicious Select element configurations. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211 for exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities and demonstrates the importance of following secure coding practices as outlined in OWASP Top Ten. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections and user education programs to reduce exposure to such attacks. The fix typically involves implementing proper integer overflow protection and memory allocation limits for HTML form elements, ensuring that the browser can gracefully handle malformed input without exhausting system resources.