CVE-2011-1295 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit, as used in Google Chrome before 10.0.648.204 and Apple Safari before 5.0.6, does not properly handle node parentage, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (DOM tree corruption), conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks, 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-2011-1295 represents a critical flaw in WebKit rendering engine implementation that affected major web browsers including Google Chrome and Apple Safari. This weakness stems from improper handling of DOM node parentage relationships within the browser's document object model structure, creating significant security implications for web application integrity and user safety. The flaw manifests when the browser fails to correctly validate or maintain parent-child relationships between DOM nodes, leading to unpredictable behavior in the document structure that can be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which addresses buffer overflow conditions, and more specifically relates to improper handling of memory structures within the DOM tree. When WebKit processes HTML content containing maliciously crafted elements, the browser's failure to properly validate node parentage creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the DOM tree structure. This mismanagement allows for potential exploitation through various attack vectors including cross-site scripting where malicious scripts can be injected and executed within the context of legitimate web pages. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple XSS attacks as it can also lead to denial of service conditions where the browser's DOM tree becomes corrupted and potentially crashes or becomes unstable.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability presents substantial risk to end users who may encounter malicious websites that exploit the DOM tree corruption flaw. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code within the browser context, potentially gaining access to sensitive user data or performing actions on behalf of the victim. The attack surface is broad as it affects not only the targeted browsers but also any web applications that rely on proper DOM handling and validation. The vulnerability's potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that additional attack vectors may exist beyond the documented XSS and DoS conditions, making it particularly dangerous for security professionals to assess and mitigate.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1295 primarily involve immediate browser updates and patches from vendors, with users urged to upgrade to versions that contain fixes for the DOM node parentage handling. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser security policies that enforce automatic updates and maintain current versions of web browsers across all user devices. Additionally, web application developers should implement robust input validation and sanitization measures to reduce the impact of potential exploitation attempts, though the root cause lies within the browser's DOM handling implementation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security monitoring systems that can detect and respond to exploitation attempts targeting known browser vulnerabilities, as outlined in the mitre ATT&CK framework's browser exploitation techniques.