CVE-2011-0779 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 9.0.597.84 does not properly handle a missing key in an extension, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted extension.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0779 represents a critical flaw in Google Chrome's extension handling mechanism that existed prior to version 9.0.597.84. This issue stems from Chrome's insufficient validation of extension metadata, specifically when a required key is absent from extension manifest files. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of proper input sanitization and error handling within the browser's extension architecture, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the application's failure to gracefully manage incomplete extension data. The vulnerability falls under the category of improper input validation as defined by CWE-20, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize input data before processing it.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious extension with a missing key in its manifest file, typically the "key" field that is essential for extension identification and security verification. When Chrome attempts to load and process this malformed extension, the application fails to properly handle the missing key condition, resulting in an unhandled exception that causes the browser application to crash. This denial of service condition can be triggered simply by loading the malicious extension, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users might encounter such extensions through various download sources or browser extensions markets. The vulnerability leverages the browser's extension management system to create a crash condition without requiring any additional privileges or complex attack vectors.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0779 extends beyond simple application instability, as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks within the broader context of browser-based exploitation. While the immediate effect is a denial of service that crashes the browser application, this vulnerability could serve as a precursor to more advanced attacks that exploit similar handling mechanisms. The flaw demonstrates poor error handling practices that could potentially be chained with other vulnerabilities or used to create more subtle attack patterns that might not immediately result in crashes but could be used to gather information about the target system or application state. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for executing malicious code through browser extensions and T1499.004 for causing denial of service through application crashes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability focus primarily on immediate patching and updating of Chrome installations to version 9.0.597.84 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly handle missing keys in extension manifests. Organizations should implement robust update management policies to ensure all browser installations remain current with security patches. Additional defensive measures include implementing browser extension whitelisting policies, where only trusted extensions are allowed to be installed, and monitoring extension installation activities for unusual patterns. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and error handling in application security, as recommended by CWE guidelines for preventing buffer overflows and memory corruption issues. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based detection mechanisms to identify and block known malicious extension patterns that could exploit similar vulnerabilities in other browsers or applications.