CVE-2009-2541 in Playstation 3
Summary
by MITRE
The web browser on the Sony PLAYSTATION 3 (PS3) allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption and console hang) 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 • 04/23/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2541 represents a critical denial of service weakness within the web browser component of Sony PLAYSTATION 3 consoles. This issue specifically targets the handling of HTML Select elements and demonstrates how web browser implementations can be exploited to consume excessive system resources and cause complete system unresponsiveness. The vulnerability affects the PS3's proprietary web browser implementation that was based on the WebKit rendering engine, making it susceptible to similar flaws found in other web browsers that process HTML form elements.
The technical flaw manifests when the web browser encounters a Select object with an excessively large integer value specified for its length property. This particular parameter controls the number of options available within a dropdown selection element, and when an attacker crafts malicious HTML content with an extraordinarily high length value, the browser's rendering engine attempts to allocate memory resources proportional to this inflated number. The implementation lacks proper bounds checking or input validation for this specific attribute, allowing an attacker to trigger memory allocation requests that exceed the console's available resources. This vulnerability is classified as a memory exhaustion issue that can be categorized under CWE-770, which deals with allocation of resources without limits or with insufficient limits, and it operates similarly to other resource exhaustion attacks documented in the ATT&CK framework under T1499.004 for Network Denial of Service.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it can be exploited remotely through web content delivery, requiring no local access or authentication. An attacker can simply craft a malicious webpage containing a Select element with an artificially inflated length property, which when loaded in the PS3 browser triggers the denial of service condition. The console becomes unresponsive and may require a complete power cycle to restore functionality, effectively rendering the device unusable for its intended purpose. This issue particularly affects the user experience and system availability, as it can be triggered by simply visiting a compromised website or clicking on malicious links in web-based content. The vulnerability represents a classic example of how web browser security flaws can be leveraged for system-level disruption rather than data theft or privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve firmware updates from Sony that implement proper bounds checking for HTML Select element properties and memory allocation limits. Users should ensure their PS3 systems are running the latest firmware versions that address this specific flaw. Network-level protections such as web filtering and content inspection systems can help prevent access to known malicious sites. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure to potentially compromised web content. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and resource management in browser implementations, aligning with security best practices outlined in the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines for web application security. Organizations should also implement monitoring for unusual resource consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability can be used as part of broader attack campaigns targeting embedded systems and gaming consoles.