CVE-2011-1204 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 10.0.648.127 does not properly handle attributes, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (DOM tree corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/14/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1204 represents a critical flaw in Google Chrome's handling of HTML attributes that existed prior to version 10.0.648.127. This issue falls under the category of improper input validation and attribute handling within the browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting how Chrome processes malformed or crafted HTML attributes. The vulnerability demonstrates a weakness in the browser's DOM (Document Object Model) tree construction mechanism, where improper attribute handling can lead to unpredictable behavior in the browser's internal representation of web documents.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from Chrome's insufficient validation of HTML attributes during document parsing and rendering operations. When processing crafted documents containing malformed attributes, the browser's parser fails to properly sanitize or handle these inputs, resulting in corruption of the DOM tree structure. This type of flaw typically occurs when the browser's HTML parser does not adequately check attribute boundaries, content types, or syntactic validity before incorporating attributes into the document structure. The vulnerability can be exploited through malicious web pages that contain specially crafted HTML elements with malformed attributes designed to trigger the parser's handling logic in unexpected ways.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. While the primary effect manifests as DOM tree corruption leading to browser instability and potential crashes, the unspecified other impacts suggest the possibility of information disclosure, privilege escalation, or execution of arbitrary code. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by hosting malicious content on web servers that, when loaded in affected Chrome versions, triggers the flawed attribute handling logic. This creates a remote attack vector where users can be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or drive-by download scenarios.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-170, which addresses improper handling of inputs that can lead to security flaws in software applications. The issue also maps to ATT&CK technique T1211, which involves exploitation of weaknesses in input validation and parsing mechanisms within applications. The vulnerability represents a classic example of how browser rendering engines can be attacked through manipulation of document structure rather than traditional code injection techniques. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability affects not only the end-user experience but also represents a potential gateway for more advanced attacks that could compromise user data or system integrity.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1204 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 10.0.648.127 or later, where the attribute handling logic has been corrected. Organizations should implement proactive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations remain current with security updates. Additionally, network administrators can deploy web application firewalls or content filtering solutions that can detect and block known malicious patterns associated with this vulnerability. Browser hardening techniques such as disabling unnecessary features, implementing strict content security policies, and using sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional defense layers. Users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping their browser software updated to protect against such exploitation vectors.