CVE-2011-2788 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the inspector serialization functionality in Google Chrome before 13.0.782.107 allows user-assisted remote attackers to have an unspecified impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/16/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2788 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within Google Chrome's inspector serialization mechanism, affecting versions prior to 13.0.782.107. This issue resides in the browser's developer tools functionality, specifically within the serialization process that handles data structures for inspection purposes. The flaw enables malicious actors to exploit the buffer overflow through user-assisted remote attack vectors, where an attacker would need to convince a victim to interact with a specially crafted web page or content that triggers the vulnerable code path. The unspecified impact category suggests that the vulnerability could potentially lead to arbitrary code execution, information disclosure, or other severe consequences depending on the execution context and exploitation method. The inspector serialization functionality is commonly used during web development and debugging processes, making it a potentially attractive target for attackers who seek to leverage the browser's debugging capabilities against users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within the inspector serialization code that processes serialized data structures. When Chrome's developer tools attempt to serialize complex data objects for inspection, the buffer allocation does not properly validate input sizes or enforce safe memory boundaries during the serialization process. This allows an attacker to provide oversized data that exceeds the allocated buffer space, causing memory corruption that can be leveraged for code execution. The vulnerability specifically affects the browser's JavaScript debugging and inspection features, which are integral components of Chrome's web development ecosystem. The flaw demonstrates poor input validation practices that align with common weakness patterns documented in CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions. The attack requires a user to interact with malicious content, making it classified as a user-assisted remote attack that typically involves social engineering or phishing techniques to deliver the exploit payload.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2788 extends beyond simple browser compromise, as it represents a significant threat to web application security and user privacy. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems, gain access to sensitive information, or establish persistent access through browser-based exploitation. The vulnerability's presence in Chrome's inspector functionality means that legitimate debugging operations could be exploited, making detection and prevention more challenging for security professionals. Organizations relying on Chrome for business operations face potential exposure through targeted attacks that exploit this flaw, particularly in environments where users may encounter malicious web content. The vulnerability's impact is compounded by the fact that Chrome's developer tools are widely used, increasing the attack surface and potential exploitation vectors. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers the use of JavaScript for execution, and demonstrates how legitimate browser features can be weaponized for malicious purposes.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2788 primarily focus on immediate patching and version updates to the affected Chrome browser versions. Users and organizations should prioritize upgrading to Chrome 13.0.782.107 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the buffer overflow in inspector serialization. Browser administrators should implement automated update mechanisms to ensure rapid deployment of security patches across enterprise environments. Additional protective measures include implementing content security policies, restricting access to potentially malicious websites, and monitoring for suspicious browser behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network security controls such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Security teams should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms and privilege separation to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices and input validation in browser components, particularly those handling user-provided data within debugging and inspection features. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of browser-based development tools and ensure that security updates are applied promptly to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other browser components.