CVE-2011-2797 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 13.0.782.107 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to resource caching.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2797 represents a critical use-after-free condition affecting Google Chrome versions prior to 13.0.782.107. This flaw resides within the browser's resource caching mechanism and demonstrates how memory management issues can lead to severe security consequences. The vulnerability operates through a specific pattern where freed memory locations are accessed after being deallocated, creating potential attack vectors that can be exploited remotely. Such memory corruption issues typically arise from improper handling of object lifecycles within complex software systems, particularly in web browsers that must manage numerous dynamic resources during page rendering and execution.
The technical exploitation of this use-after-free vulnerability occurs when Chrome's caching subsystem processes certain resource elements in a manner that leaves memory pointers in an inconsistent state. When the browser attempts to access these freed memory regions, either during normal operation or through crafted malicious content, the system behavior becomes unpredictable. This condition can manifest as application crashes, memory corruption, or potentially more severe outcomes including arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-416 indicates improper free handling, specifically where memory is freed and then accessed, which represents a fundamental memory safety issue that has plagued software development for decades. Attackers can leverage this weakness by constructing malicious web content that triggers the problematic code path during resource caching operations, potentially leading to system instability or compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2797 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the unspecified other impacts referenced in the original description suggest potential for more serious consequences. Remote attackers can exploit this vulnerability to cause browsers to crash repeatedly, effectively creating denial of service conditions for users. More concerning is the potential for this use-after-free condition to be chained with other vulnerabilities or used as a stepping stone for more sophisticated attacks. The caching functionality targeted by this vulnerability is fundamental to browser performance optimization, making the impact widespread across all users of affected Chrome versions. Security researchers have documented similar patterns in browser exploitation where use-after-free conditions in caching mechanisms have been successfully leveraged for privilege escalation or remote code execution. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised websites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2797 primarily focus on immediate software updates and system hardening measures. The most effective remediation involves upgrading to Google Chrome version 13.0.782.107 or later, which includes patches addressing the specific memory management issues in the resource caching subsystem. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all browser installations remain current with security updates. Additional defensive measures include browser sandboxing configurations, content security policies, and network-level protections that can limit the impact of such vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving memory corruption and privilege escalation, with the attack chain typically beginning with initial access through malicious web content and potentially progressing to system compromise. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring for unusual browser crash patterns or memory access anomalies that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security assessments and the need for robust memory safety practices in software development, particularly for complex applications like web browsers that handle untrusted content from multiple sources.