CVE-2011-1122 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The WebGL implementation in Google Chrome before 9.0.597.107 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via unspecified vectors, aka Issue 71960.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1122 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the WebGL graphics implementation of Google Chrome browser versions prior to 9.0.597.107. This issue specifically affects the browser's handling of WebGL (Web Graphics Library) operations which enable hardware-accelerated 3D graphics rendering directly within web browsers without requiring additional plugins. The vulnerability manifests as a memory access violation that occurs when the browser processes certain WebGL commands, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior and system instability. According to the Chromium bug tracker reference, this flaw was tracked under issue 71960, indicating it was part of the broader Chrome security maintenance efforts during that period.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the WebGL rendering pipeline of Chrome's graphics subsystem. When processing WebGL commands, the browser fails to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries before accessing memory locations, allowing malicious web content to trigger unauthorized memory reads beyond allocated buffer limits. This type of flaw typically arises from insufficient input validation and memory management practices within graphics APIs. The out-of-bounds read condition can potentially expose sensitive memory contents or cause the browser process to crash, resulting in a denial of service attack against legitimate users. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in browser environments where arbitrary code execution risks are elevated due to the complex nature of graphics processing and memory management.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1122 extends beyond simple service disruption as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks. While the immediate effect is a denial of service, the out-of-bounds read condition could potentially be leveraged by attackers to extract memory contents, which might reveal sensitive information about the browser's internal state or operating system memory layout. This could aid in developing more advanced exploitation techniques, including information disclosure attacks that align with attack patterns described in the attack tree framework. The vulnerability affects a core browser functionality that many websites rely upon for enhanced visual experiences, making it particularly concerning for web application security. The flaw impacts not just individual users but potentially large numbers of Chrome users who access web content that may contain malicious WebGL implementations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions that contain the patched WebGL implementation. Users and system administrators should prioritize updating to Chrome 9.0.597.107 or later, which includes the necessary bounds checking improvements and memory safety enhancements. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all browser installations are updated promptly. Additional defensive measures include implementing web content filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious WebGL content, though this approach is less effective as the vulnerability can be exploited through legitimate web applications. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and browser security logs, as the vulnerability may be part of broader attack campaigns targeting browser graphics subsystems. The fix addresses the underlying CWE-129 weakness related to insufficient bounds checking, aligning with recommended security practices for preventing memory corruption vulnerabilities in graphics processing components.