CVE-2011-2794 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 13.0.782.107 does not properly perform text iteration, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2794 affects Google Chrome versions prior to 13.0.782.107 and represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw in the browser's text iteration implementation. This issue stems from improper handling of text processing operations that occur during web page rendering and user interaction with textual content. The vulnerability exists within the core rendering engine's text manipulation capabilities, specifically when processing text iteration operations that traverse character sequences or text ranges within web documents. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web content that triggers malformed text iteration sequences, leading to memory access violations that result in application instability and potential system crashes.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves leveraging the browser's text processing subsystem to execute out-of-bounds memory reads during text iteration operations. When Chrome processes text content that contains malformed or specially crafted sequences, the text iteration logic fails to properly validate array indices or memory boundaries, allowing attackers to access memory locations outside the intended text buffers. This flaw falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can potentially be chained with other exploits to achieve more sophisticated attack vectors including code execution or information disclosure, though the direct exploitation pathway typically results in browser crashes and service interruption.
The security implications of CVE-2011-2794 demonstrate the critical importance of proper input validation and memory management in browser applications, particularly in text processing components that handle user-generated content. This vulnerability affects the browser's core functionality and can be triggered through various attack vectors including malicious websites, crafted web pages, or even email attachments that render web content within the browser environment. The flaw represents a classic example of how seemingly benign text processing operations can become attack surfaces when proper boundary checks and validation mechanisms are absent. From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability affects users of older Chrome versions and highlights the necessity of timely security updates and patch management processes. The impact on enterprise environments can be significant as organizations may experience service disruptions, increased support tickets, and potential exposure to more advanced attacks that could exploit the instability created by this denial of service condition.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome installations to mitigate this vulnerability, as the exploitation can occur without user interaction in many scenarios. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched versions to ensure compatibility with existing web applications and services. Security teams should also implement monitoring for unusual browser crash patterns or memory access violations that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, network security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional layers of protection by blocking known malicious content patterns that may trigger this vulnerability. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser versions and implementing robust security practices that include regular vulnerability assessments and security awareness training for end users.