CVE-2011-2614 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
The SVG implementation in Opera before 11.50 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via vectors involving a path on which many characters are drawn.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2614 represents a significant denial of service flaw within Opera's SVG rendering engine that existed prior to version 11.50. This issue specifically targets the browser's handling of Scalable Vector Graphics content, which is a widely used vector image format on the web. The vulnerability manifests when the browser encounters SVG path elements containing an excessive number of characters, leading to application instability and potential crashes. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign web content can be weaponized to disrupt browser operations, highlighting the complexity of rendering engine security in modern web browsers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within Opera's SVG path processing routines. When parsing SVG path data, the browser fails to properly handle pathological cases where path commands contain an excessive number of characters or where the path structure becomes overly complex. This lack of proper bounds checking and resource allocation management creates a condition where the rendering engine can consume excessive memory or processing resources, ultimately leading to application termination. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of graphics rendering and memory management, where malformed SVG content can trigger buffer overflows or resource exhaustion conditions. This flaw aligns with CWE-129, which addresses improper validation of length of input buffers, and CWE-772, which covers missing release of resource after effective lifetime.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser crashes, as it provides attackers with a reliable method for disrupting user browsing sessions and potentially affecting system availability. Remote attackers can craft malicious web pages containing specially constructed SVG elements that will cause Opera browsers to crash when rendered, effectively creating a denial of service condition that affects legitimate users. This vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where users may encounter untrusted web content, as it requires no special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website. The attack vector demonstrates how browser vendors must consider not only the security of their core rendering engines but also the robustness of their handling of various input formats, as SVG content is commonly embedded in web pages and applications.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on updating to Opera version 11.50 or later, which contains the necessary patches to properly handle malformed SVG path data. System administrators and security professionals should prioritize this update across all affected systems, particularly in enterprise environments where browser stability is critical. Additional protective measures include implementing web content filtering solutions that can identify and block suspicious SVG content, though this approach may impact legitimate web functionality. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms in modern browsers, as these features can help contain the impact of such flaws and prevent them from escalating to more serious security issues. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training to help users recognize potentially malicious web content and maintain regular patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security fixes. This vulnerability exemplifies the ongoing challenge in browser security where complex rendering engines must balance performance, compatibility, and robustness against adversarial inputs, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 for avoiding detection through application crashes and service disruptions.