CVE-2011-1802 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit in Google Chrome before Blink M11 and M12 does not properly handle counter nodes, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption).
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1802 represents a critical memory corruption issue within the WebKit rendering engine that powered Google Chrome prior to the transition to the Blink rendering engine in versions M11 and M12. This flaw specifically manifests in the improper handling of counter nodes, which are CSS elements used to track and display numerical values such as list item numbers or chapter counts. The vulnerability exists at the intersection of web rendering and memory management, creating a potential vector for remote attackers to exploit the browser's rendering engine through crafted web content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when WebKit processes CSS counter nodes in a manner that leads to improper memory allocation or deallocation patterns. Counter nodes in CSS are designed to automatically increment and display numerical values, but the flaw in Chrome's WebKit implementation causes memory corruption when these elements are manipulated through malicious web pages. This memory corruption can result in browser crashes or, in more sophisticated attack scenarios, potentially allow for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability type, which represents an out-of-bounds read, and is closely related to memory corruption issues that have been documented in web browser security contexts. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign CSS functionality can be leveraged to create serious security implications within browser environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-1802 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it represents a potential pathway for more sophisticated attacks targeting the browser's memory management systems. When exploited, this vulnerability could allow remote attackers to cause Chrome browsers to crash repeatedly, effectively creating a denial of service condition for users. However, the memory corruption nature of the flaw also suggests potential for more severe exploitation scenarios where attackers might be able to manipulate memory contents to execute malicious code. The vulnerability affects users of Google Chrome versions prior to M11 and M12, representing a significant security gap in the browser's rendering engine that could be exploited in the context of web-based attacks, particularly those involving cross-site scripting or other web application vulnerabilities. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to browser exploitation and memory corruption attacks, specifically targeting the rendering engine as an attack surface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1802 primarily focus on updating to patched versions of Google Chrome that transitioned to the Blink rendering engine, which addressed the underlying memory management issues in WebKit. Users should immediately upgrade to Chrome M12 or later versions to eliminate exposure to this vulnerability. Browser vendors and security teams should implement proactive patch management protocols to ensure timely deployment of security updates. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious web content that might exploit this vulnerability. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security assessments and the need for robust memory management practices in browser rendering engines, particularly in handling CSS elements that involve dynamic state tracking and numerical manipulation.