CVE-2011-2334 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use after free vulnerability exists in WebKit in Google Chrome before Blink M12 in RenderLayerwhen removing elements with reflections.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/13/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2334 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the WebKit rendering engine that was prevalent in Google Chrome versions prior to the Blink rendering engine transition in version 12. This flaw specifically manifests during the removal of DOM elements that possess CSS reflection properties, creating a scenario where memory previously allocated to a RenderLayer object becomes accessible for reuse before the application properly deallocates it. The vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices within the rendering layer when handling elements with complex visual effects such as reflections that require multiple render layer allocations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the interaction between CSS reflection properties and the WebKit rendering architecture's memory management system. When a web page contains HTML elements with CSS reflection specifications, the rendering engine creates multiple RenderLayer objects to handle the visual representation including the reflected portions. During the removal process of these elements, the memory deallocation sequence fails to properly synchronize with the rendering pipeline, resulting in a situation where freed memory can be accessed and potentially overwritten by subsequent operations. This creates a classic use-after-free scenario that can be exploited by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code within the context of the browser.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides attackers with potential code execution capabilities through carefully crafted web content. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it occurs during normal browsing operations when CSS reflection properties are processed, making it difficult to detect and prevent through conventional security measures. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by constructing malicious web pages that trigger the specific sequence of element creation and removal that causes the memory corruption, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability affects the core rendering functionality of the browser, making it a high-value target for exploitation in zero-day attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2334 primarily focus on updating to patched versions of Google Chrome that implement the Blink rendering engine, which resolved the memory management issues inherent in the older WebKit implementation. System administrators should prioritize immediate deployment of Chrome versions 12.0.742.112 or later, which contain the necessary fixes for this vulnerability. Additionally, organizations should implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary CSS features, employing content security policies, and utilizing sandboxing mechanisms to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free errors, and represents a technique commonly associated with attack patterns in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the category of code injection and privilege escalation. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring systems to detect anomalous behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts targeting this specific memory corruption vulnerability.