CVE-2011-1200 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 10.0.648.127 does not properly perform a cast of an unspecified variable during text rendering, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unknown other impact via a crafted document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1200 represents a critical flaw in Google Chrome's text rendering engine that existed prior to version 10.0.648.127. This issue stems from improper type casting operations during the processing of text elements within web documents, creating a potential vector for remote code execution and system instability. The flaw manifests when Chrome encounters specially crafted documents that trigger unexpected behavior in its rendering pipeline, particularly affecting how the browser handles variable type conversions during text processing operations.
From a technical perspective, the vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory management and type safety within Chrome's rendering architecture. The unspecified variable casting issue suggests that the browser's JavaScript engine or rendering component fails to properly validate or convert data types when processing text elements in web content. This type of flaw typically falls under the CWE-190 category of Integer Overflow or Wraparound, though the specific implementation may involve more complex type conversion vulnerabilities that could lead to memory corruption. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of how improper type handling can create exploitable conditions in modern browser environments where complex rendering engines process untrusted content.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1200 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, potentially enabling remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. When a malicious document triggers the flawed casting operation, the resulting memory corruption could allow attackers to manipulate program execution flow, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would likely map to T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, as it enables attackers to leverage browser-based attack vectors to gain unauthorized system access. The remote nature of the exploit means that users could be compromised simply by viewing malicious content, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns and drive-by download scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Chrome installations to version 10.0.648.127 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the type casting issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies and consider deploying automated patch management systems to ensure all endpoints receive security updates promptly. Network administrators should also consider implementing web content filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious document types that might trigger the vulnerability. The fix likely involves strengthening type validation mechanisms within Chrome's rendering engine and implementing additional bounds checking during text processing operations to prevent the problematic casting scenarios that lead to memory corruption. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability through threat intelligence feeds and network traffic analysis tools that can identify attempts to leverage the specific casting flaw in web-based attacks.