CVE-2010-3414 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 6.0.472.59 on Mac OS X does not properly implement file dialogs, which allows attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors. NOTE: this issue exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2010-3112 on Mac OS X.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/25/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-3414 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 6.0.472.59 on Mac OS X platforms. This issue stems from improper implementation of file dialog functionality within the browser's user interface, creating a potential attack vector that could result in severe consequences for affected systems. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue indicates that malicious actors could potentially manipulate the browser's memory management during file dialog operations, leading to unpredictable system behavior and potential exploitation opportunities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves the flawed handling of file dialog interactions specifically on macOS operating systems. When Chrome processes file selection operations through its graphical interface, the browser fails to properly validate or sanitize user inputs, creating opportunities for attackers to craft malicious payloads that trigger memory corruption during dialog processing. This memory corruption can manifest as application crashes, system instability, or potentially more severe outcomes depending on the specific exploitation methods employed by attackers. The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2010-3112 demonstrates a problematic remediation approach where the initial fix for one vulnerability inadvertently introduced a new security weakness, creating a scenario where addressing one issue created a different but equally serious problem.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users of affected Chrome versions on macOS systems. The potential for denial of service attacks means that attackers could repeatedly trigger the memory corruption issue, causing browsers to crash or become unresponsive, effectively disrupting user productivity and potentially creating persistent availability issues. Additionally, the unspecified other impacts mentioned in the description suggest that this vulnerability could potentially enable more sophisticated attacks beyond simple service disruption. The memory corruption aspect particularly aligns with common attack patterns found in the attack mitigation framework, where such issues can be leveraged for privilege escalation or information disclosure attacks.
Organizations and individual users should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by updating to Chrome version 6.0.472.59 or later, which contains the proper implementation of file dialog functionality. Security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability, particularly in environments where users might be exposed to untrusted web content or file attachments. The vulnerability's presence in the browser's core UI components makes it particularly dangerous as it could be triggered through normal browsing activities, potentially through malicious websites or email attachments. Compliance with industry standards such as those outlined in the CWE database regarding input validation and memory safety practices becomes critical in preventing similar issues in future software implementations, as this vulnerability demonstrates how incomplete or incorrect security fixes can create new attack surfaces rather than resolving existing ones.