CVE-2010-1237 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome 4.1 BETA before 4.1.249.1036 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory error) or possibly have unspecified other impact via an empty SVG element.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1237 represents a critical memory handling flaw within Google Chrome version 4.1 BETA prior to 4.1.249.1036. This issue manifests when the browser encounters an empty svg element in web content, leading to potential system instability and arbitrary code execution risks. The flaw exists in the browser's processing of Scalable Vector Graphics elements, specifically when these elements contain no content or are improperly structured. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of a memory corruption issue that can be exploited through crafted web pages containing maliciously formatted svg elements. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which encompasses out-of-bounds read errors, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within Chrome's rendering engine when processing empty svg elements. When the browser attempts to parse and render such elements, the memory management system fails to properly handle the empty state, resulting in memory corruption that can manifest as heap corruption or stack overflow conditions. This memory error can cause the browser to crash or become unresponsive, constituting a denial of service attack. However, the vulnerability's potential impact extends beyond simple service disruption, as memory corruption flaws often provide attackers with opportunities for privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution. The exploitation requires minimal user interaction, typically involving the mere act of visiting a compromised website that contains the malicious svg element.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-1237 is significant for organizations relying on Google Chrome as their primary browser solution. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to disrupt user productivity through denial of service conditions, or potentially gain unauthorized access to systems by executing malicious code through the memory corruption exploit. The vulnerability affects all users running Chrome versions before the patched release, creating a widespread exposure across corporate and individual environments. Security teams must consider the potential for this vulnerability to be used in targeted attacks against high-value targets, as the combination of remote exploitability and potential for privilege escalation makes it particularly dangerous. The vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of keeping browser software updated, as the issue was resolved through a security patch that properly validates svg element content before processing.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-1237 primarily focus on immediate software updates to the patched Chrome version 4.1.249.1036 or later. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all browser installations are updated promptly, as this vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction. Network administrators can deploy web application firewalls or content filtering solutions that block or sanitize svg content, though this approach may impact legitimate website functionality. Browser hardening measures such as disabling svg support entirely or implementing sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional protection layers. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual browser crash patterns or memory allocation errors that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of vulnerability scanning and penetration testing to identify potentially affected systems within the organization's attack surface, ensuring that all Chrome installations are properly patched and monitored for similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.