CVE-2011-2787 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 13.0.782.107 does not properly address re-entrancy issues associated with the GPU lock, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2787 represents a critical re-entrancy issue within Google Chrome's GPU lock mechanism that existed in versions prior to 13.0.782.107. This flaw resides in the browser's handling of graphics processing unit operations and specifically impacts how Chrome manages concurrent access to GPU resources during rendering processes. The issue stems from inadequate synchronization mechanisms that fail to properly prevent recursive or nested access to GPU locks, creating a scenario where malicious actors can exploit this weakness to disrupt normal browser operation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic re-entrancy flaw that operates at the intersection of operating system threading models and browser rendering architecture. When Chrome processes graphics-intensive web content, it utilizes GPU acceleration to improve performance and user experience. However, the GPU lock mechanism in affected versions lacks proper re-entrancy protection, allowing attackers to craft malicious web pages that can trigger recursive lock acquisitions. This condition occurs when a thread attempting to acquire a GPU lock is interrupted by another operation that also requires the same lock, leading to a deadlock situation or resource exhaustion that ultimately results in application instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to end users and organizations relying on Chrome for web browsing activities. The denial of service condition can be triggered remotely through malicious websites, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter untrusted content. Attackers can exploit this weakness without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website, making it a high-impact vulnerability from a security operations standpoint. The crash behavior affects not just individual browser tabs but can potentially bring down entire browser processes, disrupting user productivity and potentially providing a vector for more sophisticated attacks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-362, which identifies concurrent execution using shared resource vulnerabilities, and demonstrates how improper lock management can create exploitable conditions in multi-threaded applications. From an adversary perspective, this issue maps to ATT&CK technique T1059, specifically related to command and scripting interpreters, as attackers can leverage the instability to execute further malicious activities or maintain persistence within compromised systems. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome installations, as the vulnerability provides a straightforward path to service disruption that can be easily automated and scaled across multiple targets. Additionally, implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can provide additional defense-in-depth measures to mitigate the risk of exploitation.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Chrome updates to version 13.0.782.107 or later, which contain the necessary fixes for the GPU lock re-entrancy issue. Security teams should also consider implementing browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary GPU features for users who do not require graphics-intensive web applications, as well as monitoring for unusual browser crash patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to ensure that all Chrome installations within the organization remain current with security patches. The fix implemented by Google addresses the root cause by strengthening the GPU lock synchronization mechanisms and preventing recursive lock acquisitions that previously led to the denial of service condition.