CVE-2011-1796 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the FrameView::calculateScrollbarModesForLayout function in page/FrameView.cpp in WebCore in WebKit in Google Chrome before 11.0.696.65 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via crafted JavaScript code that calls the removeChild method during interaction with a FRAME element.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/10/2022
The CVE-2011-1796 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the WebKit rendering engine's FrameView component that affected Google Chrome versions prior to 11.0.696.65. This vulnerability resides in the page/FrameView.cpp file within the WebCore module, specifically within the FrameView::calculateScrollbarModesForLayout function. The flaw manifests when JavaScript code executes the removeChild method during interactions with FRAME elements, creating a scenario where memory that has already been freed is subsequently accessed, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted JavaScript code that manipulates DOM elements in a specific sequence involving FRAME elements and the removeChild method. When a FRAME element undergoes layout calculations and scrollbar mode determination, the FrameView component fails to properly manage memory references, resulting in a use-after-free condition. This condition allows attackers to trigger memory corruption that ultimately leads to application crashes or potentially more severe consequences depending on the execution context. The vulnerability's classification as a use-after-free aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of memory after it has been freed, making this a classic memory safety issue that can be leveraged for denial of service attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable more sophisticated attack vectors. While the primary effect is denial of service through application crashes, the underlying memory corruption could theoretically be exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause other unspecified impacts as noted in the vulnerability description. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for attackers seeking to compromise user systems, as the memory corruption could potentially be leveraged for privilege escalation or information disclosure attacks. The vulnerability's presence in the core layout engine means that any web page containing malicious JavaScript could potentially trigger the flaw, making it a widespread concern for web browsing security.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1796 primarily focus on immediate patching and updating to affected Chrome versions that contain the necessary fixes. Google released Chrome version 11.0.696.65 and later which addressed this vulnerability through proper memory management in the FrameView::calculateScrollbarModesForLayout function. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Additionally, browser security configurations should include sandboxing mechanisms and content security policies that limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under software vulnerabilities and memory corruption techniques, emphasizing the need for robust input validation and memory safety practices. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect and prevent exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability.