CVE-2011-2853 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 14.0.835.163 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to plug-in handling.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2853 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome browser 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 potential exploitation opportunities for malicious actors. The issue specifically manifests within the browser's plugin handling mechanisms, which serve as a critical attack surface due to the complex nature of plugin architecture and the extensive privileges these components often possess within the browser environment.
The technical exploitation of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory management during plugin lifecycle operations. When Chrome processes plugin interactions, particularly those involving dynamic content loading or plugin communication with the browser core, the memory allocated for plugin objects may be prematurely deallocated while still being referenced by subsequent operations. This memory corruption scenario creates unpredictable behavior that attackers can leverage to execute arbitrary code or cause system instability. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and demonstrates how improper memory management can lead to severe security implications.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to users and organizations relying on older Chrome versions. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw to trigger denial of service conditions that effectively crash the browser application, rendering it unusable for legitimate users. More concerning is the potential for unspecified other impacts that could include arbitrary code execution, privilege escalation, or data compromise. The plugin handling context makes this particularly dangerous as browser plugins often have extensive access to system resources and user data. Attackers could potentially leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious payloads that persist across browser sessions or compromise user credentials stored in the browser's memory space.
The exploitation of CVE-2011-2853 aligns with several ATT&CK tactics including privilege escalation and execution through browser-based attacks. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service, potentially enabling attackers to establish persistent access to compromised systems through plugin-based attack vectors. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of broader browser security hygiene practices, particularly in environments where legacy browser versions may be deployed. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrade to Chrome version 14.0.835.163 or later, which incorporates memory management fixes addressing the specific use-after-free conditions. Additionally, implementing browser hardening measures such as sandboxing, plugin restrictions, and regular security updates can significantly reduce the attack surface and potential impact of similar vulnerabilities in the browser ecosystem.