CVE-2011-1296 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 10.0.648.204 does not properly handle SVG text, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors that lead to a "stale pointer."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1296 represents a critical memory safety issue within Google Chrome browser versions prior to 10.0.648.204. This flaw specifically manifests in the browser's handling of Scalable Vector Graphics text elements, creating a condition where improper memory management can occur during the processing of SVG content. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can be exploited to compromise system stability and potentially execute arbitrary code. The technical nature of this flaw indicates that Chrome's rendering engine fails to properly manage memory references when processing certain SVG text elements, leading to what is known as a stale pointer condition. Such conditions typically arise when a program continues to reference memory locations that have been freed or reallocated, creating potential for unpredictable behavior and system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the description suggests unspecified other impacts that could include remote code execution or additional security breaches. When Chrome encounters malformed or specially crafted SVG text elements, the browser's memory management system becomes compromised, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate memory contents and execute malicious code. This particular vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of modern browser security where rendering engine flaws can have cascading effects on overall system integrity. The stale pointer condition creates an environment where memory corruption can occur, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise depending on the execution context and attack vector employed by adversaries.
The security implications of CVE-2011-1296 align with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script-based attacks that leverage browser vulnerabilities. This vulnerability specifically affects web browsers' handling of vector graphics content and represents a classic example of how multimedia content processing can introduce security risks. The flaw demonstrates the inherent complexity of modern web browsers that must process diverse content types while maintaining memory safety. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the attacker to craft specific SVG content that triggers the memory corruption, making it a sophisticated attack vector that requires careful preparation and understanding of Chrome's rendering engine behavior. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be delivered through standard web content and does not require user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to Chrome version 10.0.648.204 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the memory management issues in SVG text processing. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all browser installations are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious SVG content, enabling sandboxing features within the browser, and employing content security policies that restrict the execution of potentially malicious vector graphics. Network administrators should also consider implementing browser hardening configurations that limit the processing of external SVG content and monitor for unusual memory usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of keeping browser software updated and demonstrates how seemingly specialized rendering issues can have far-reaching security implications across the entire computing environment.