CVE-2011-0784 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Race condition in Google Chrome before 9.0.597.84 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to audio.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0784 represents a critical race condition flaw discovered in Google Chrome versions prior to 9.0.597.84. This vulnerability specifically targets the browser's handling of audio components and exploits a timing-dependent flaw that could be leveraged by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The race condition occurs during the processing of audio data streams, creating a window where malicious code can be injected and executed with the privileges of the browser process. This particular vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of modern browser security architectures where multimedia processing components can become attack vectors due to insufficient synchronization mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this race condition involves the interaction between Chrome's audio processing subsystem and the browser's memory management system. When processing certain audio content, particularly those involving dynamic audio streams or embedded multimedia elements, the browser fails to properly synchronize access to shared memory regions. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that trigger simultaneous operations on audio processing components, creating a temporal gap where memory corruption occurs. This memory corruption can then be exploited to overwrite critical function pointers or execute shellcode directly within the browser's memory space. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the intersection of multimedia processing and memory management, areas that are often less scrutinized than traditional web security components.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-0784 extends beyond simple code execution, as it fundamentally undermines the security boundaries that browsers maintain between trusted and untrusted content. Successful exploitation allows attackers to bypass the browser's sandboxing mechanisms, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability affects users across multiple operating systems including Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux platforms where vulnerable Chrome versions are installed. Given Chrome's widespread adoption, this vulnerability could be leveraged in large-scale attacks targeting unsuspecting users. The remote nature of the attack vector means that users need only visit a compromised website to be vulnerable, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or malicious advertising networks.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which specifically addresses race conditions in software implementations, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through audio processing components. The flaw demonstrates the importance of proper synchronization primitives in multi-threaded applications and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of multimedia processing pipelines. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation strategies including mandatory browser updates to Chrome version 9.0.597.84 or later, along with network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious audio content. Additionally, browser hardening measures including sandboxing enhancements and memory protection mechanisms should be implemented to reduce the potential impact of similar vulnerabilities in the future. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that modern browsers require continuous security assessment due to the increasing complexity of their multimedia capabilities and the sophisticated attack vectors that can emerge from these features.