CVE-2011-2836 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 14.0.835.163 does not require Infobar interaction before use of the Windows Media Player plug-in, which makes it easier for remote attackers to have an unspecified impact via crafted Flash content.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2836 represents a significant security flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 14.0.835.163 where the browser fails to enforce proper user interaction requirements before executing the Windows Media Player plugin. This weakness stems from the browser's insufficient validation mechanisms that should have required explicit user confirmation through an infobar before allowing potentially dangerous plugin operations to proceed. The vulnerability operates within the context of browser plugin security management and demonstrates a critical failure in the principle of least privilege enforcement for third-party components.
This technical flaw specifically affects the plugin execution lifecycle within Chrome's security architecture by bypassing the expected user consent mechanisms that would normally appear as infobar notifications. When Flash content attempts to utilize the Windows Media Player plugin, the browser should require explicit user acknowledgment before proceeding with the plugin activation. However, in affected versions, this verification step is omitted, creating an attack surface where malicious actors can exploit the absence of user interaction requirements to execute unauthorized plugin operations. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-693, which addresses protection mechanism failures, and represents a clear violation of proper access control enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation to encompass broader security implications for users browsing the web. Remote attackers can leverage this weakness to manipulate plugin behavior without user awareness, potentially leading to various malicious outcomes including unauthorized media playback, system resource consumption, or exploitation of underlying plugin vulnerabilities. The unspecified impact mentioned in the description suggests that this flaw could enable multiple attack vectors depending on how the Windows Media Player plugin interacts with the compromised system. This vulnerability directly supports techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under initial access and execution phases, where adversaries can leverage browser-based attacks to establish footholds.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate browser updates to versions 14.0.835.163 or later where the infobar requirement has been properly implemented. Users should also consider disabling or removing the Windows Media Player plugin from their browser configuration when not actively required for legitimate content consumption. System administrators should implement browser hardening policies that enforce security updates and monitor for unauthorized plugin installations. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper user interaction requirements before plugin execution, ensuring that all plugin operations require explicit user consent through the browser's security interface. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based security controls and content filtering to prevent access to potentially malicious Flash content that could exploit this vulnerability.