CVE-2011-1124 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 9.0.597.107 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to blocked plug-ins.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1124 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 9.0.597.107 that enables remote attackers to exploit the browser's handling of blocked plugins. This vulnerability resides within the browser's memory management system where freed memory blocks are accessed after being deallocated, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors. The issue specifically manifests when Chrome processes plugin content that has been blocked by security policies, leading to improper memory cleanup operations that leave dangling pointers vulnerable to exploitation. The use-after-free condition typically occurs when the browser's plugin management subsystem fails to properly track memory references during plugin lifecycle operations, particularly when handling blocked or rejected plugin content. This flaw operates under the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as CWE-416, which categorizes use-after-free vulnerabilities as a direct result of improper memory management practices where memory is accessed after it has been freed. The attack surface expands significantly when considering that plugins often contain complex code structures and can interact with system resources in ways that amplify the potential impact of memory corruption vulnerabilities. The vulnerability's designation as potentially enabling unspecified other impacts suggests that beyond simple denial of service, attackers might be able to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges through this memory corruption vector.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1124 extends beyond simple browser crashes or denial of service conditions, as the underlying memory corruption can potentially be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks within the browser environment. When a remote attacker successfully exploits this vulnerability through blocked plugin vectors, they can potentially manipulate the browser's memory state to redirect execution flow or inject malicious code into the browser process. The specific nature of the exploit involves triggering the browser's plugin handling mechanisms in a way that causes memory deallocation followed by subsequent access to the freed memory region, which can lead to unpredictable behavior including code execution. The attack typically requires the victim to visit a malicious website that loads a specially crafted plugin or plugin-related content that triggers the vulnerable code path during plugin blocking operations. This vulnerability's exploitation represents a classic example of how browser security can be compromised through improper handling of user-supplied content, particularly when dealing with complex plugin architectures that require extensive memory management. The fact that this vulnerability affects the core browser rendering engine makes it particularly dangerous as successful exploitation could provide attackers with complete control over the user's browsing session and potentially escalate to system-level access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1124 focus primarily on updating to patched versions of Google Chrome where the memory management issues have been addressed through proper memory handling and validation procedures. Browser vendors typically implement fixes that ensure proper memory deallocation and reference tracking during plugin lifecycle operations, preventing the use-after-free conditions that enable exploitation. Security administrators should prioritize immediate deployment of Chrome version 9.0.597.107 or later, which includes patches that address the specific memory corruption patterns associated with blocked plugin handling. Additional protective measures include implementing browser security policies that restrict plugin execution, utilizing sandboxing mechanisms to limit potential exploitation impacts, and employing content filtering solutions that can prevent access to known malicious domains. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK framework as part of the T1059.007 technique highlights the importance of monitoring for unusual plugin behavior and memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level controls that can detect and block malicious plugin-related traffic patterns, as well as regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation vectors within their browser environments. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of the patched browser versions to ensure that legitimate plugin functionality remains intact while addressing the specific memory corruption vulnerabilities that make exploitation possible.