CVE-2010-1731 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome on the HTC Hero allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via JavaScript that writes <marquee> sequences in an infinite loop.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-1731 represents a significant denial of service weakness in Google Chrome browser versions running on HTC Hero mobile devices. This flaw specifically exploits the browser's handling of JavaScript code that generates infinite loops of marquee elements, creating a condition where the application becomes unresponsive and ultimately crashes. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign HTML elements can be weaponized to disrupt user experience and system stability in mobile browser environments.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the improper handling of JavaScript-generated marquee tags within the browser's rendering engine. When malicious JavaScript code continuously creates marquee elements without proper loop termination conditions, it overwhelms the browser's processing capabilities and memory management systems. This particular implementation flaw affects the browser's ability to manage dynamic content updates and can lead to complete application failure. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-400, which addresses unchecked resource consumption, and demonstrates how resource exhaustion can occur through improper input handling.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-1731 extends beyond simple application instability to potentially compromise user productivity and device usability. Mobile users accessing compromised web content could experience complete browser crashes, forcing them to restart applications and potentially lose unsaved work or session data. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in mobile environments where users may not have easy access to alternative browsing methods or recovery mechanisms. Attackers could leverage this weakness to disrupt mobile users' access to web-based services, applications, or critical information systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on implementing robust input validation and resource management within browser environments. Security measures include deploying JavaScript sandboxing mechanisms, implementing resource consumption limits, and establishing proper loop detection algorithms to prevent infinite execution sequences. Browser vendors should also consider implementing automatic timeout mechanisms for dynamic content rendering and establishing more stringent validation for HTML elements that can cause resource exhaustion. Organizations should ensure timely patch deployment and consider network-level filtering to prevent access to known malicious content until proper security updates are applied. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of mobile-specific security considerations in browser development and the need for comprehensive testing across different device platforms and operating systems.