CVE-2011-2611 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the printing functionality in Opera before 11.50 allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted web page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2611 represents a critical flaw in Opera web browser's printing subsystem that existed prior to version 11.50. This issue falls under the category of unspecified vulnerability within the browser's rendering and printing capabilities, demonstrating how seemingly benign functionality can become a vector for system disruption. The vulnerability specifically affects the printing functionality component of Opera, which is a core feature that enables users to generate printable versions of web content through various print-related APIs and mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory handling within Opera's printing engine when processing specially crafted web pages. Attackers can construct malicious web content that, when processed through the browser's print functionality, triggers unexpected behavior in the underlying code execution paths. This flaw likely involves buffer overflows, improper memory management, or unhandled exception conditions that occur during the conversion of web content into printable formats. The vulnerability operates through a user-assisted remote attack vector, meaning that victims must actively navigate to a malicious webpage and potentially interact with print-related elements for the exploit to succeed. This characteristic reduces the attack surface compared to fully autonomous exploits but still presents a significant risk in environments where users frequently encounter untrusted web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2611 manifests as a denial of service condition that results in complete application crashes. When exploited, the vulnerability causes Opera to terminate unexpectedly, forcing users to restart the browser and potentially lose unsaved work or session data. This disruption affects the user experience significantly, particularly in enterprise environments where browser stability is crucial for productivity. The vulnerability also represents a potential precursor to more sophisticated attacks, as application crashes can be used to establish a foothold for further exploitation or to test system resilience. From a cybersecurity perspective, this flaw demonstrates how browser vendors must maintain rigorous testing of all components, including less frequently used features like printing functionality, which can serve as unexpected attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2611 primarily involve upgrading to Opera version 11.50 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the printing functionality vulnerability. System administrators should prioritize this update across all user endpoints, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted web content. Additionally, implementing web filtering solutions and educating users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites can help reduce exposure to this vulnerability. Organizations should also consider monitoring for suspicious printing activity or application crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and may also relate to CWE-119, concerning weak buffer access controls. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for privilege escalation through application execution, although the specific impact is limited to denial of service rather than privilege compromise. Regular security assessments and vulnerability management processes should include comprehensive testing of browser components to identify similar issues in other software applications.