CVE-2010-4050 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Opera before 10.63 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) by referencing an SVG document in an IMG element.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4050 represents a critical memory corruption flaw in Opera web browsers prior to version 10.63. This vulnerability specifically manifests when the browser encounters an svg document embedded within an img element, creating a scenario where remote attackers can exploit the parsing mechanism to trigger system instability. The flaw resides in the browser's handling of vector graphics content and demonstrates how improper memory management during document parsing can lead to severe operational consequences. The issue falls under the category of heap-based buffer overflows as defined by CWE-122, where the browser's memory allocation during svg processing exceeds allocated boundaries, potentially allowing arbitrary code execution or system crashes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the browser's rendering engine's inadequate validation of svg elements when they are referenced through img tags. When Opera processes such malformed svg content, the parsing routine fails to properly validate memory boundaries, leading to corruption of adjacent memory regions. This memory corruption typically manifests as heap corruption, which can result in unpredictable behavior including application crashes, memory leaks, or in more severe cases, potential code execution. The attack vector requires only a remote web page containing the malicious svg reference, making it particularly dangerous for web-based exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 by leveraging browser rendering engines to achieve denial of service conditions, and specifically maps to T1059.007 for script-based exploitation through web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2010-4050 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as memory corruption vulnerabilities often provide attackers with opportunities to escalate privileges or execute malicious code. Organizations running affected Opera versions face significant risk of system compromise, particularly in environments where users frequently access untrusted web content. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can exploit it without requiring local system access, making it particularly attractive for large-scale attacks. Browser-based memory corruption issues like this one often require immediate patching due to their potential for exploitation in the wild, as demonstrated by the rapid adoption of security updates following the disclosure of similar vulnerabilities. The flaw underscores the importance of proper input validation and memory management in web browser implementations, particularly when handling complex multimedia content types such as svg graphics. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how seemingly benign web content can be weaponized to compromise system integrity, emphasizing the need for comprehensive browser security assessments and regular patch management programs.
This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of robust memory management practices in browser security implementations. The flaw highlights how SVG processing can become a vector for memory corruption attacks, particularly when browsers fail to properly validate memory boundaries during content parsing. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-122 indicates that it involves improper handling of heap-based memory operations, where the browser's memory allocation routines do not adequately protect against buffer overflows. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Opera installations and implement monitoring for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also emphasizes the need for defense-in-depth strategies, including web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious svg content before it reaches vulnerable browsers. Additionally, security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments targeting browser-based attack surfaces, as these types of memory corruption flaws often remain undetected until exploited in real-world scenarios. The incident serves as a reminder of the complex security challenges inherent in modern web browsers, where the convergence of multiple multimedia technologies creates numerous potential attack vectors for memory corruption exploits.