CVE-2010-4205 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 7.0.517.44 does not properly handle the data types of event objects, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/04/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4205 represents a critical type confusion issue within Google Chrome's JavaScript engine that affected versions prior to 7.0.517.44. This flaw resides in the browser's handling of event object data types, specifically within the V8 JavaScript engine that powers Chrome's rendering and execution capabilities. The vulnerability stems from insufficient type validation mechanisms when processing event objects, which are fundamental components in web applications that respond to user interactions and system events. When Chrome encounters malformed or unexpected event object data types, the browser's type system fails to properly validate the data structure, leading to potential exploitation scenarios that can compromise the browser's stability and security posture.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's JavaScript engine encountering event objects with inconsistent or unexpected data types during event processing. This type confusion occurs when the engine attempts to manipulate event properties that were not properly initialized or were modified in unexpected ways. The flaw manifests in scenarios where attackers can craft malicious web pages that trigger specific JavaScript execution paths, causing the browser to mishandle the event object's internal data structures. According to CWE-468, this vulnerability maps to improper type handling, specifically involving the incorrect use of data types in object-oriented programming contexts. The vulnerability's exploitation can lead to memory corruption issues that may result in browser crashes, denial of service conditions, or potentially more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution in some cases.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to end users and organizations relying on Chrome as their primary web browser. The remote exploitation nature means that users can be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites without requiring any additional user interaction or privilege escalation. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to create persistent denial of service conditions that prevent legitimate web browsing activities, or potentially establish footholds for more sophisticated attacks. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the vulnerability could be chained with other exploits to create more dangerous attack vectors. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211 which involves exploiting weaknesses in software to gain unauthorized access or cause system instability. Organizations using older Chrome versions face heightened risk exposure, as the vulnerability affects the core browser functionality that users depend on daily for web access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2010-4205 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 7.0.517.44 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper type validation mechanisms. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management policies that ensure all browser installations remain current with security updates. Additional protective measures include implementing browser security features such as sandboxing, content security policies, and restricting access to potentially malicious websites through web filtering solutions. Organizations should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious network traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping all browser components updated, as the fix involved strengthening the JavaScript engine's type checking mechanisms to properly validate event object data types. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual browser behavior or crash patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where users access untrusted web content regularly.