CVE-2011-2847 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the document loader in Google Chrome before 14.0.835.163 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2847 represents a critical use-after-free condition within Google Chrome's document loader component, affecting versions prior to 14.0.835.163. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating a scenario where malicious actors can exploit the improper memory management to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability. The document loader in question handles various file formats and web content processing, making it a prime target for exploitation. The vulnerability falls under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage in exploitation scenarios.
The technical flaw manifests when Chrome processes specially crafted documents that trigger memory allocation and deallocation sequences in an improper order. Attackers can construct malicious documents containing malformed data structures that, when loaded by the vulnerable browser, cause the application to free memory regions while still maintaining references to them. This memory corruption can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Chrome, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The exploitation typically involves creating a document that forces the browser to allocate memory for certain objects, then triggers a condition that causes these objects to be freed while the application continues to reference them, leading to unpredictable behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, as it can potentially enable remote code execution and privilege escalation attacks. When exploited successfully, attackers can gain control over the victim's system, allowing them to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access through the compromised browser. The vulnerability affects all users of affected Chrome versions regardless of their security awareness, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter malicious documents. The remote nature of the attack means that victims do not need to interact with the malicious content directly, as simply loading the document in the browser triggers the exploit.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2847 primarily focus on immediate software updates and browser hardening measures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to Google Chrome version 14.0.835.163 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the use-after-free condition. Organizations should implement automated update mechanisms to ensure all systems receive security patches promptly. Additional protective measures include enabling Chrome's sandboxing features, configuring content security policies, and implementing web application firewalls to filter potentially malicious content. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and maintain updated threat intelligence feeds to detect exploitation attempts. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of memory safety in browser implementations and the critical need for regular security updates in client-side applications.