CVE-2011-2843 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 14.0.835.163 does not properly handle media buffers, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via unspecified vectors.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2843 represents a critical memory safety issue within Google Chrome browser versions prior to 14.0.835.163. This flaw resides in the browser's media buffer handling mechanisms, specifically affecting how Chrome processes multimedia content including audio and video streams. The vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when the browser attempts to manage media data buffers during content rendering. Such issues typically arise from insufficient input validation or improper buffer boundary checking during multimedia processing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices within Chrome's media processing pipeline. When handling various media formats, the browser fails to properly validate buffer sizes or boundaries before accessing memory locations. This allows remote attackers to craft malicious web content that triggers memory access violations. The out-of-bounds read condition can potentially lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes, memory corruption, or in some cases, arbitrary code execution depending on the specific memory layout and exploitation circumstances. The vulnerability affects the browser's core multimedia subsystem and can be triggered through various vector types including web pages containing crafted multimedia elements.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users of older Chrome versions as it enables remote attackers to perform denial of service attacks against targeted systems. The attack requires no privileged access or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised websites. The vulnerability can be exploited across different operating systems where Chrome is installed, as the memory management issue exists within the browser's core components rather than being platform-specific. Organizations using affected Chrome versions face potential productivity losses due to browser crashes and service interruptions, while individual users risk system instability and potential data loss.
Security mitigations for CVE-2011-2843 primarily involve immediate patching and updating to Chrome version 14.0.835.163 or later, which contains the necessary memory safety improvements. System administrators should implement automated update policies to ensure all browser installations remain current with security patches. Additional protective measures include implementing web content filtering solutions, deploying browser security extensions, and establishing secure browsing policies that limit exposure to untrusted web content. Organizations should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1203 for legitimate program execution, as attackers leverage browser vulnerabilities to execute malicious code or cause system instability. The remediation approach should also include user education regarding safe browsing practices and the importance of keeping software updated to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.