CVE-2011-2353 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use after free vulnerability in documentloader in WebKit in Google Chrome before Blink M13 in DocumentWriter::replaceDocument function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/05/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2353 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the WebKit rendering engine that was prevalent in Google Chrome versions prior to the Blink rendering engine transition in milestone 13. This vulnerability specifically manifests within the DocumentWriter::replaceDocument function of the documentloader component, creating a scenario where memory that has been freed is subsequently accessed by the application. The flaw arises from improper memory management practices during document replacement operations, allowing attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code through maliciously crafted web content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which defines use-after-free conditions as a common class of memory safety issues where program code continues to reference memory after it has been freed. The vulnerability occurs when the DocumentWriter::replaceDocument function fails to properly invalidate references to previously allocated memory structures before they are freed, creating a window where attacker-controlled data can be written to the freed memory region. This memory corruption can then be exploited to overwrite critical function pointers or control structures, enabling privilege escalation or code execution within the browser context.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to users of affected Chrome versions as it can be leveraged through drive-by downloads or malicious web pages without requiring user interaction beyond visiting compromised sites. The exploitability of this flaw is enhanced by the fact that it operates within the core document processing pipeline of the browser, making it accessible through standard web browsing activities. Attackers can craft HTML content that triggers the specific code path leading to the use-after-free condition, potentially resulting in complete browser compromise and subsequent system access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2353 primarily involve immediate upgrades to Chrome versions that have transitioned to the Blink rendering engine, which eliminated this specific vulnerability through improved memory management practices. Additionally, users should implement browser security best practices including keeping software updated, utilizing sandboxing features, and employing security extensions. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to prevent access to known malicious domains. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation, specifically targeting the browser process execution environment and memory management subsystems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper memory management in browser engines and highlights how seemingly minor implementation flaws can result in severe security implications across the entire user base.