CVE-2011-2638 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Opera before 11.10 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via unknown content on a web page, as demonstrated by games on zylom.com.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/14/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2638 represents a critical security flaw in Opera web browsers prior to version 11.10, specifically classified as a denial of service vulnerability that can be exploited remotely. This issue manifests when the browser encounters malformed or malicious content on web pages, leading to unexpected application crashes that disrupt user experience and potentially provide attackers with opportunities for further exploitation. The vulnerability was demonstrated through specific content hosted on zylom.com, a platform known for hosting online games that often contain complex multimedia elements and scripting that could trigger the browser instability. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability indicates that the exact technical mechanism triggering the crash was not fully disclosed in the initial report, making it particularly challenging for security teams to implement targeted defenses.
The technical flaw underlying CVE-2011-2638 appears to stem from inadequate input validation and memory management within Opera's rendering engine, particularly when processing complex web content such as those found in online gaming platforms. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of buffer overflows, memory corruption, or improper handling of malformed data structures that can cause the browser process to terminate unexpectedly. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability means that attackers do not need physical access to the target system or any special privileges to trigger the denial of service condition. The issue demonstrates how seemingly benign web content can be weaponized to cause system instability, highlighting the importance of robust input sanitization and defensive programming practices in web browser implementations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on Opera browsers for their users, as it can be exploited to disrupt business operations through targeted web page attacks. The denial of service condition not only affects individual user experience but can also be leveraged in larger-scale attacks where multiple users are simultaneously targeted, potentially causing cascading failures in web-based services. Organizations using Opera browsers may experience increased support tickets, reduced productivity, and potential security incidents when users encounter compromised web content. The vulnerability's exploitation through gaming content on zylom.com suggests that web-based entertainment platforms represent a particularly high-risk area for such attacks, as these sites often incorporate complex multimedia elements that increase the attack surface.
Security mitigations for CVE-2011-2638 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to version 11.10 or later, which would contain the necessary patches to address the underlying memory management and input validation flaws. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies to ensure all systems are running patched versions, while also considering network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can help identify and block malicious content before it reaches user browsers. The vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack tree methodology, where remote code execution or denial of service conditions are often achieved through manipulation of input parameters that are not properly validated. Security teams should also consider implementing browser hardening measures and monitoring for unusual crash patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as this vulnerability demonstrates how simple content manipulation can lead to significant operational disruptions. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining current browser versions and implementing proactive security measures to protect against similar vulnerabilities that may be discovered in the future.