CVE-2010-4042 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 7.0.517.41 does not properly handle element maps, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to "stale elements."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4042 affects Google Chrome versions prior to 7.0.517.41 and relates to improper handling of element maps within the browser's rendering engine. This flaw occurs when the browser fails to correctly manage references to DOM elements that have been removed or modified during the page lifecycle, creating a condition where stale element references persist in memory. The issue stems from how Chrome's JavaScript engine processes element maps, which are data structures used to track relationships between DOM nodes and their associated properties or event handlers. When elements are dynamically removed from the document object model while still referenced elsewhere in the browser's memory, these stale references can cause unpredictable behavior.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's garbage collection mechanism and DOM element management system. When Chrome encounters situations where elements are removed from the DOM but references to them remain in memory, the element map structure becomes inconsistent. This inconsistency can lead to memory corruption or invalid memory access patterns that cause the browser to crash or behave unpredictably. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through web pages that manipulate DOM elements in specific ways, potentially triggering the stale element handling issue during normal page operations. Attackers can craft malicious web content that forces the browser into a state where stale element references cause memory corruption, leading to denial of service conditions or potentially more severe impacts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it represents a fundamental flaw in how the browser manages memory and DOM element references. When exploited, the vulnerability can cause Chrome to crash repeatedly, forcing users to restart the browser and potentially lose unsaved work or session data. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the CVE description suggest that under certain conditions, this flaw might enable more sophisticated attacks beyond simple crashes, potentially including arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation. This vulnerability affects a wide range of users since Chrome was widely deployed across multiple operating systems and platforms, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on web-based applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4042 primarily involve updating to Chrome version 7.0.517.41 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly handle element maps and prevent stale element references from causing memory corruption. System administrators should prioritize immediate deployment of this security update across all affected systems, particularly in enterprise environments where Chrome is heavily used for business applications. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious content patterns associated with this vulnerability, as well as monitoring network traffic for suspicious activities related to DOM manipulation. Organizations should also consider implementing browser hardening techniques such as sandboxing and restricted permissions for web content to limit the potential impact of any successful exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which deals with improper access to memory, and could potentially map to ATT&CK techniques involving privilege escalation and execution through web-based attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in browser environments and highlights the need for continuous security updates to address complex rendering engine flaws that can have cascading effects on system stability and security.