CVE-2011-2822 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 13.0.782.215 on Windows does not properly parse URLs located on the command line, which has unspecified impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2822 represents a critical flaw in Google Chrome's URL parsing mechanism on Windows operating systems. This issue affects versions prior to 13.0.782.215 and stems from improper handling of command line arguments containing URLs. The vulnerability arises from the browser's insufficient validation and sanitization of URL parameters passed through the command line interface, creating a potential attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors.
The technical flaw manifests in how Chrome processes URL strings when they are provided as command line parameters rather than through normal browser navigation. When users or applications pass URLs directly to the browser executable through command line arguments, the parsing logic fails to correctly interpret and validate these inputs. This improper parsing can lead to unexpected behavior in the browser's execution flow, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate how the browser handles the provided URL. The vulnerability falls under the category of input validation and parsing errors, which are commonly classified as CWE-20 - Improper Input Validation within the Common Weakness Enumeration framework. The specific nature of this flaw enables attackers to craft malicious command line inputs that could trigger unintended browser behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple parsing failures, as it creates multiple potential attack vectors for exploitation. An attacker could potentially leverage this weakness to execute arbitrary code, bypass security restrictions, or manipulate browser behavior in ways that were not intended by the developers. The unspecified nature of the impact and attack vectors suggests that the vulnerability could be exploited in various ways depending on the specific context in which the malformed URLs are processed. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 - Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell, where command line manipulation could be used to exploit the browser's parsing mechanism. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in environments where users might execute browser commands with elevated privileges or where automated processes pass URLs to the browser.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2822 primarily focus on updating to the patched version of Google Chrome, specifically version 13.0.782.215 or later, which addresses the URL parsing inconsistencies in the Windows implementation. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive the security update promptly. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict which applications can execute browser processes with command line arguments, thereby reducing the attack surface. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious command line executions that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where browser automation or scripting is common. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of secure coding practices in URL handling and input validation, emphasizing that all external inputs must be properly sanitized before processing. This case demonstrates how seemingly simple parsing logic can create significant security implications when not properly validated against malicious input patterns.