CVE-2011-0484 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 8.0.552.237 and Chrome OS before 8.0.552.344 do not properly perform DOM node removal, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors that lead to a "stale rendering node."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0484 represents a critical flaw in Google Chrome's handling of Document Object Model node removal operations. This issue affects Chrome versions prior to 8.0.552.237 and Chrome OS versions prior to 8.0.552.344, where the browser fails to properly manage the cleanup of DOM nodes during document manipulation processes. The flaw manifests when the browser encounters scenarios where DOM nodes are removed from the document structure but remain referenced in memory or rendering contexts, creating what security researchers term "stale rendering nodes." This improper handling of node lifecycle management creates a potential attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors to disrupt browser operations or potentially execute arbitrary code.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient memory management and reference tracking within Chrome's rendering engine. When DOM nodes are removed from the document, the browser should completely eliminate all references to these nodes and release associated memory resources. However, in affected versions, the browser's garbage collection mechanism fails to properly identify and clean up these stale references, leading to memory leaks and potential instability. The flaw operates at the intersection of browser rendering and memory management, where the DOM node removal process does not adequately synchronize with the rendering pipeline. This creates a scenario where removed nodes continue to exist in memory or are still referenced in rendering contexts, potentially causing browser crashes or allowing attackers to manipulate the browser state through carefully crafted malicious content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it could potentially enable more sophisticated attacks depending on how the stale rendering nodes are exploited. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to cause browser crashes that might be used as part of a larger attack chain, potentially leading to system instability or information disclosure. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the original description suggest that this flaw might be exploitable for privilege escalation or code execution under certain conditions. The vulnerability affects the core browser functionality and could be particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently interact with untrusted web content, as the attack vectors could be triggered through simple web page navigation or embedded content.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0484 primarily focus on immediate patching and system updates to ensure affected Chrome versions are upgraded to secure releases. Organizations should prioritize updating all Chrome installations to versions 8.0.552.237 or later, along with corresponding Chrome OS updates. Additionally, implementing browser hardening measures such as sandboxing and restricted browsing environments can provide additional defense layers. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and consider network-based detection measures that could identify malicious web content attempting to trigger this vulnerability. The fix implemented by Google addresses the underlying DOM node management issue through improved reference tracking and memory cleanup processes, aligning with established security practices for preventing memory management vulnerabilities. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory lifecycle management in browser environments and aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack framework, particularly those involving memory corruption and browser exploitation techniques.