CVE-2011-1437 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple integer overflows in Google Chrome before 11.0.696.57 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to float rendering.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1437 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome browser versions prior to 11.0.696.57, specifically affecting the browser's handling of float rendering operations. This issue falls under the category of integer overflow vulnerabilities, which occur when a program attempts to store a value that exceeds the maximum capacity of the data type being used. The flaw manifests during the processing of floating-point numbers within the browser's rendering engine, creating conditions where malicious actors can exploit the system's arithmetic operations to trigger unexpected behavior.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of integer variables that control memory allocation and buffer sizes during float rendering processes. When Chrome processes certain malformed or crafted floating-point values, the integer overflow conditions cause the application to allocate insufficient memory or trigger invalid memory operations. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through web content that a user might encounter while browsing, making it an ideal candidate for remote code execution or denial of service attacks. The integer overflow occurs in the browser's graphics rendering subsystem where floating-point calculations are performed to determine visual elements such as text positioning, layout calculations, and graphical transformations.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1437 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the vulnerability could potentially enable more sophisticated attacks depending on the specific conditions under which the overflow occurs. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in vulnerable Chrome versions, cause the browser to crash or behave unpredictably. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the description suggest that this vulnerability might provide opportunities for privilege escalation or information disclosure, though the exact attack vectors were not fully detailed in the initial reporting. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the browser's stability and security model, as it undermines the sandboxing mechanisms that protect users from malicious web content.
Security researchers classify this vulnerability under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and it aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services through browser-based attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management in browser engines, particularly in the context of web standards implementation. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability provides attackers with a straightforward path to disrupt browser functionality and potentially gain unauthorized access to system resources. The remediation process requires updating to Chrome version 11.0.696.57 or later, which includes patches that address the integer overflow conditions in the float rendering code paths. Additionally, security teams should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider deploying browser security extensions that provide additional layers of protection against such vulnerabilities.