CVE-2011-0778 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 9.0.597.84 does not properly restrict drag and drop operations, which might allow remote attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0778 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome browsers prior to version 9.0.597.84, specifically concerning the browser's handling of drag and drop operations. This issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that govern how web content interacts with the browser's security model, creating potential pathways for malicious actors to exploit the Same Origin Policy enforcement. The Same Origin Policy serves as a fundamental security boundary in web browsers, preventing scripts from one origin from accessing resources or data from another origin without proper authorization. When this policy is circumvented, it can lead to unauthorized data access and cross-site scripting attacks that compromise user privacy and system integrity.
The technical flaw manifests in Chrome's inadequate restriction of drag and drop functionality within the browser's rendering engine. During drag and drop operations, web content can potentially manipulate the browser's security context to access resources that should normally be restricted. This vulnerability allows attackers to craft malicious web pages that exploit the improper validation of drag and drop events, enabling them to bypass the security boundaries that separate different origins. The unspecified vectors mentioned in the description indicate that the attack surface encompasses multiple potential exploitation techniques, making the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be leveraged through various attack scenarios.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it fundamentally undermines the browser's security architecture. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to access sensitive data from other origins, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, and unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability affects users across various platforms where affected Chrome versions are deployed, creating a widespread risk that could be exploited in targeted attacks or mass phishing campaigns. Security researchers have classified this as a medium to high severity issue due to its potential for bypassing core security mechanisms that protect user data and system integrity.
Organizations and users should immediately update to Chrome version 9.0.597.84 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as the fix addresses the underlying drag and drop validation issues that enabled the bypass of Same Origin Policy restrictions. Security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability and implement additional protective measures such as content security policies and web application firewalls to mitigate potential attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in web applications, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059, representing the use of web-based attack vectors to exploit browser vulnerabilities. Organizations should also consider implementing browser hardening measures and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their web application environments.