CVE-2011-2351 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 12.0.742.112 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors involving SVG use elements.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2351 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome browser versions prior to 12.0.742.112. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating potential attack vectors for malicious actors. The specific context involves SVG use elements within the browser's rendering engine, which are part of the Scalable Vector Graphics standard used for displaying two-dimensional vector graphics in web applications. The flaw manifests when Chrome processes certain SVG elements that reference other elements through use tags, creating a scenario where memory allocation and deallocation become misaligned.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's handling of SVG elements that utilize the use element for referencing other graphical components. When Chrome processes these elements, it fails to properly manage the memory lifecycle of referenced objects, leading to a situation where freed memory blocks are accessed after being reallocated for other purposes. This use-after-free condition can be triggered through carefully crafted SVG content that exploits the interaction between the SVG parser and the browser's memory management system. The vulnerability specifically affects the rendering pipeline where SVG elements are processed and rendered, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory states through malicious web content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling more severe attacks. Remote attackers can leverage this flaw to cause browser crashes and system instability, leading to denial of service conditions that disrupt user experience and potentially provide a foothold for further exploitation. The unspecified other impacts mentioned in the description suggest that this vulnerability could potentially allow for arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation depending on the specific memory corruption patterns that occur. The attack vector involves delivering malicious SVG content through web pages, which when rendered by the vulnerable browser triggers the memory corruption, making this a significant concern for web-based attack scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2351 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions that contain the necessary patches. Google released Chrome version 12.0.742.112 with fixes addressing this specific use-after-free vulnerability, making timely patch deployment the most effective immediate solution. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies and consider automated update mechanisms to ensure all systems remain protected against known vulnerabilities. Additionally, network security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help reduce exposure by blocking suspicious SVG content, though these should be viewed as supplementary measures rather than primary defenses. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software systems, and represents a classic example of memory safety issues that can be exploited through web-based attack vectors. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under defense evasion and execution techniques, where adversaries leverage memory corruption vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or disrupt system operations.