CVE-2011-1187 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 10.0.648.127 allows remote attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy via unspecified vectors, related to an "error message leak."
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1187 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome browsers prior to version 10.0.648.127 that undermines the fundamental Same Origin Policy protection mechanism. This policy serves as a cornerstone of web security by preventing scripts from one origin from accessing resources from another origin, thereby protecting users from cross-site scripting attacks and data theft. The vulnerability specifically exploits an error message leak that enables attackers to circumvent these essential security boundaries through unspecified vectors that were not fully detailed in the initial disclosure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from how Chrome handled error messages generated during web page processing, particularly when dealing with cross-origin requests. When Chrome encountered certain error conditions, it would inadvertently leak information through error messages that contained data from different origins, effectively creating a covert channel for information disclosure. This flaw allowed malicious actors to gather sensitive information from other domains, potentially including session cookies, user data, or other confidential resources that should have been protected by the same origin policy. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure Through Output Error Messages," and represents a sophisticated bypass of browser security controls that are fundamental to web application security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it fundamentally compromises the trust model that web browsers establish between different origins. Attackers could leverage this flaw to perform cross-site scripting attacks, steal user sessions, or gather sensitive data from authenticated users without their knowledge. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it could be exploited through legitimate web browsing activities, making detection and prevention extremely challenging for both users and administrators. This type of vulnerability directly maps to tactics described in the ATT&CK framework under T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, as it enables attackers to establish persistent access through information gathering and session hijacking techniques.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1187 required immediate browser updates to version 10.0.648.127 or later, which contained patches addressing the error message handling mechanisms that were leaking cross-origin information. Organizations should have implemented comprehensive browser update policies and monitoring systems to ensure all users were protected against this vulnerability. Additionally, security professionals needed to conduct thorough assessments of their web applications to identify potential exploitation vectors and implement additional defensive measures such as strict content security policies and enhanced error handling procedures. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of proper error message sanitization and the need for rigorous security testing of browser components, particularly those handling cross-origin operations, to prevent similar issues from arising in future implementations.