CVE-2010-2120 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome 1.0.154.48 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (resource consumption) via JavaScript code containing an infinite loop that creates IFRAME elements for invalid news:// URIs.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2120 represents a significant resource exhaustion flaw within Google Chrome version 1.0.154.48 that enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks through carefully crafted JavaScript code. This vulnerability specifically targets the browser's handling of invalid news:// URIs within IFRAME elements, creating a scenario where malicious code can consume excessive system resources and potentially crash the browser or render the system unresponsive.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits Chrome's URI parsing and handling mechanisms when processing malformed news:// URIs within dynamically generated IFRAME elements. When JavaScript code containing an infinite loop repeatedly creates IFRAME elements pointing to invalid news:// URIs, the browser's resource management system becomes overwhelmed as it attempts to process these malformed references. This behavior constitutes a classic resource exhaustion attack pattern that can be classified under CWE-400, which specifically addresses unspecified resource management errors in software systems. The vulnerability demonstrates how improper input validation and insufficient bounds checking in URI handling can lead to system instability and denial of service conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser instability to potentially affect user productivity and system availability. When exploited, the infinite loop creates a continuous cycle of resource allocation and processing that can consume CPU cycles and memory resources at an unsustainable rate. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which covers network denial of service attacks, and represents a form of resource exhaustion that can be particularly effective against browsers due to their complex rendering and resource management requirements. The attack vector through JavaScript execution makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through web pages without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting the malicious site.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should include immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to the latest stable releases that contain fixes for the URI handling and resource management issues. Browser vendors should implement additional input validation mechanisms to prevent processing of malformed URIs and establish limits on resource consumption for dynamic element creation. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block JavaScript patterns associated with infinite loop constructions targeting specific URI schemes. Additionally, user education regarding safe browsing practices and the importance of keeping browsers updated remains crucial in defending against such exploits that leverage browser-specific implementation flaws.