CVE-2011-2839 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The PDF implementation in Google Chrome before 13.0.782.215 on Linux does not properly use the memset library function, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2839 represents a critical flaw in Google Chrome's PDF rendering implementation on Linux systems. This issue specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 13.0.782.215, where the browser's handling of PDF documents contains a memory management error that could be exploited by remote attackers. The flaw resides in how Chrome's PDF library function utilizes the memset function, which is a standard C library routine used for filling memory blocks with a specific value. When this function is improperly implemented or called, it can lead to unpredictable behavior and security consequences.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory initialization within Chrome's PDF processing code. The memset function is designed to set a specified number of bytes in memory to a particular value, typically zero, but when this function is misused or when the implementation fails to properly handle memory boundaries, it can result in memory corruption. This improper usage creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents in ways that were not intended by the software design. The vulnerability operates at a low level within the browser's memory management system, making it particularly dangerous as it can potentially be leveraged to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to Linux users of affected Chrome versions. The potential impacts include both denial of service conditions where the browser crashes or becomes unresponsive, as well as more severe consequences that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system. The unspecified nature of the other potential impacts suggests that the memory corruption could be exploited in various ways, potentially leading to privilege escalation or information disclosure. Attackers could craft malicious PDF documents that, when opened in the vulnerable Chrome version, would trigger the memory corruption and enable exploitation. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning for environments where users might encounter untrusted PDF content.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-704, which covers incorrect function call arguments, and relates to memory safety issues that are commonly addressed through proper input validation and memory management practices. The attack surface is broad as PDF documents are frequently encountered in web browsing, email attachments, and various online content delivery systems. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome installations and consider implementing additional security measures such as PDF sandboxing, content filtering, and user education about avoiding suspicious PDF content. The remediation process should include updating to Chrome version 13.0.782.215 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to properly implement the memset function and prevent the memory corruption issues that led to this vulnerability.