CVE-2011-1111 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 9.0.597.107 does not properly implement forms controls, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1111 represents a critical flaw in Google Chrome's implementation of form controls that existed prior to version 9.0.597.107. This issue demonstrates a fundamental weakness in the browser's input validation and control handling mechanisms, specifically within the rendering engine's processing of HTML form elements. The vulnerability classifies under CWE-170, which deals with improper handling of input that could lead to unexpected behavior or security consequences. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web content that leverages malformed or improperly structured form controls to trigger abnormal application states.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from Chrome's insufficient validation of form control elements during the parsing and rendering process. When the browser encounters certain combinations of form elements, attributes, or nested structures, it fails to properly handle the input, leading to memory corruption or unexpected execution paths. This improper handling can result in stack or heap corruption, which typically manifests as application crashes or segmentation faults. The unspecified nature of potential impacts suggests that beyond simple denial of service, attackers might be able to execute arbitrary code or gain elevated privileges depending on the specific exploitation vector used.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users who browse the internet with affected Chrome versions. The attack surface is broad since form controls are ubiquitous on web pages, making exploitation relatively straightforward for threat actors. The denial of service aspect means that legitimate users could experience application instability, forcing them to restart their browsers or even their entire systems. In more sophisticated exploitation scenarios, this vulnerability could serve as a stepping stone for more advanced attacks, potentially allowing remote code execution or privilege escalation. Organizations relying on Chrome as their primary browser for web-based applications would be particularly vulnerable to this type of attack.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1111 focus primarily on immediate remediation through software updates. Users and organizations should prioritize upgrading to Chrome version 9.0.597.107 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the form control implementation flaws. Additionally, browser hardening measures can provide defense-in-depth, including enabling sandboxing features, implementing content security policies, and restricting browser permissions for untrusted websites. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1203, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities, and T1059, which covers command and scripting interpreters, as attackers might leverage such flaws to establish persistent access or escalate privileges within compromised systems.
This vulnerability exemplifies the importance of robust input validation and proper memory management in browser security. The incident highlights how seemingly minor implementation flaws in core browser components can lead to severe security consequences. Security teams should maintain comprehensive patch management processes and conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify and remediate similar issues before they can be exploited by malicious actors. The remediation process also emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring and threat intelligence to stay ahead of evolving attack vectors targeting browser software.