CVE-2011-1441 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 11.0.696.57 does not properly perform a cast of an unspecified variable during handling of floating select lists, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unknown other impact via a crafted HTML document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1441 represents a critical type confusion issue within Google Chrome's rendering engine that affected versions prior to 11.0.696.57. This flaw resides in the browser's handling of HTML select elements when floating positioning is applied, creating a scenario where an unspecified variable undergoes improper casting during the rendering process. The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient type validation within the browser's JavaScript engine, specifically within the V8 JavaScript engine that powers Chrome's execution environment. When a maliciously crafted HTML document contains floating select lists with specific characteristics, the browser's internal casting mechanism fails to properly validate the variable types, leading to unpredictable behavior during the rendering cycle. This type confusion vulnerability manifests as a potential crash or memory corruption scenario that can be exploited by remote attackers through web-based attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1441 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as the unspecified nature of the potential consequences suggests that attackers could potentially leverage this flaw for more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a crafted HTML document that specifically manipulates floating select list elements, making it a targeted attack vector that would be difficult to detect in normal browsing scenarios. Attackers could craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in affected Chrome versions, would trigger the type confusion error and potentially lead to arbitrary code execution or complete browser compromise. The vulnerability affects the browser's core rendering capabilities and represents a fundamental flaw in how Chrome handles DOM element type management during complex CSS positioning scenarios.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of array indices and other type-related issues in software implementations. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign HTML elements can be weaponized when combined with improper type casting mechanisms in browser engines. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this as a technique involving exploitation of browser vulnerabilities, specifically targeting the browser's rendering engine through crafted web content. Organizations using affected Chrome versions faced significant risk as this vulnerability could be exploited in the wild through drive-by downloads or malicious websites that presented crafted HTML content to unsuspecting users. The vulnerability's impact was particularly concerning given Chrome's widespread adoption and the browser's role as a primary attack surface for web-based exploits.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1441 centered primarily on updating to Chrome version 11.0.696.57 or later, which contained the necessary patches to address the type confusion issue. System administrators and security teams needed to prioritize this update across all affected systems, as the vulnerability provided attackers with a straightforward path to cause denial of service or potentially achieve remote code execution. Additionally, implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions could help detect and block malicious HTML content that might exploit this vulnerability. The incident highlighted the importance of regular browser updates and the critical nature of maintaining current security patches for web browsers, which serve as the primary interface between users and potentially malicious web content. Organizations should have implemented automated patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates and prevent exploitation of such vulnerabilities in their environments.