CVE-2011-1293 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the HTMLCollection implementation in Google Chrome before 10.0.648.204 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1293 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Google Chrome's HTMLCollection implementation, affecting versions prior to 10.0.648.204. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by malicious actors. The HTMLCollection interface in web browsers provides access to collections of elements within the Document Object Model, making it a fundamental component in web page rendering and manipulation. When this implementation contains a use-after-free condition, it creates an exploitable entry point for attackers seeking to compromise browser security.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Chrome's JavaScript engine, specifically in how HTMLCollection objects handle memory allocation and deallocation. When web pages manipulate DOM elements through HTMLCollection interfaces, the browser must properly manage the underlying memory structures to prevent access to deallocated memory regions. In affected versions, this memory management fails, allowing attackers to craft malicious web content that triggers the use-after-free condition. The vulnerability can be triggered through various attack vectors involving DOM manipulation and element collection operations, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause browser crashes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users of affected Chrome versions, as it can be exploited remotely through web-based attacks. The potential impacts extend beyond simple denial of service to include unspecified other effects that could compromise system integrity. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code within the browser context, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The use-after-free condition creates a memory corruption scenario that aligns with common attack patterns described in the attack tree framework, where memory corruption vulnerabilities often serve as initial access vectors for more sophisticated attacks. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in browser security implementations.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of established frameworks such as CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations. The vulnerability also maps to several ATT&CK techniques related to initial access and execution, particularly those involving exploitation of browser vulnerabilities and privilege escalation through memory corruption. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability provides attackers with a reliable method for bypassing browser security controls. The remediation process should include comprehensive browser updates, along with monitoring for any signs of exploitation attempts in network traffic or system logs. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content security policies can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability.