CVE-2011-1192 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 10.0.648.127 on Linux does not properly handle Unicode ranges, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/19/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1192 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 10.0.648.127 on Linux systems. This issue stems from improper handling of Unicode character ranges within the browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting how Chrome processes and interprets Unicode sequences. The vulnerability manifests when the browser encounters malformed or unexpected Unicode data during page rendering operations, creating a scenario where memory access occurs beyond the bounds of allocated buffers. Such improper memory handling creates a potential attack vector that remote adversaries can exploit to disrupt normal browser operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in Chrome's Unicode processing mechanisms, where the browser fails to properly validate or sanitize Unicode character ranges before processing them. This flaw falls under the category of memory safety issues and can be classified as a CWE-125 vulnerability, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions. When Chrome encounters Unicode data that exceeds expected ranges or contains malformed sequences, the browser's internal Unicode handling code attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This behavior creates an exploitable condition where attackers can craft malicious web content that triggers the out-of-bounds memory access, leading to unpredictable system behavior.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against affected Chrome installations. The out-of-bounds read condition typically results in browser crashes or application instability, effectively rendering the affected system unusable for web browsing activities. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the vulnerability can be leveraged to potentially escalate attacks, particularly when combined with other exploit techniques. Attackers can craft web pages containing specifically designed Unicode sequences that trigger the vulnerability, causing the browser to crash and forcing users to restart the application. The Linux-specific nature of this vulnerability indicates that the affected code paths differ between operating systems, making the exploitation more targeted and potentially more effective on Linux platforms.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses any user interaction with web content that contains malicious Unicode sequences, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter untrusted web content. This includes webmail services, social media platforms, and any website that might process user-generated content containing Unicode characters. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or cause system instability. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader browser security assessments, particularly when evaluating the robustness of Unicode processing in web browsers. The remediation approach requires updating Chrome to version 10.0.648.127 or later, which includes patches that properly validate Unicode character ranges and prevent out-of-bounds memory access. Additionally, organizations should implement browser hardening measures and consider deploying security solutions that can detect and block exploitation attempts targeting such vulnerabilities, while maintaining comprehensive monitoring for any signs of exploitation attempts.