CVE-2011-2827 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 13.0.782.215 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to text searching.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2021
The CVE-2011-2827 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 13.0.782.215 that fundamentally compromises the browser's memory management integrity. This vulnerability specifically manifests during text searching operations within the browser's rendering engine, creating a scenario where freed memory locations are accessed after they have been deallocated by the application's memory management system. The technical nature of this flaw aligns with CWE-416, which categorizes use-after-free conditions as a serious memory safety issue that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the unspecified other impacts referenced in the CVE description suggest potential for more severe consequences including remote code execution. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web content that triggers text search functionality in a manner that causes the browser to access freed memory locations, potentially leading to crashes or more dangerous outcomes depending on the specific memory layout and timing conditions. This vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser security and memory safety, representing a classic example of how improper memory management can create persistent security risks.
The exploitation of CVE-2011-2827 demonstrates the inherent complexity of modern browser security where seemingly benign operations like text searching can become attack vectors. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers can leverage this flaw through web pages without requiring user interaction beyond visiting malicious sites, making it particularly dangerous in the context of web-based attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving memory corruption and privilege escalation, as it can potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 13.0.782.215 and later, which contain the necessary memory management fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all Chrome installations are current with security updates. Additionally, network administrators can deploy web filtering solutions that block access to known malicious domains, though this approach provides only partial protection since the vulnerability exists within the browser's core functionality. The remediation process should include thorough testing of patched versions to ensure compatibility with existing applications while maintaining security posture against similar memory corruption vulnerabilities that may exist in other browser components or web applications.