CVE-2011-2862 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google V8, as used in Google Chrome before 14.0.835.163, does not properly restrict access to built-in objects, which has unspecified impact and remote attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2862 represents a critical security flaw within Google V8 JavaScript engine that powers Google Chrome browser functionality. This engine serves as the core JavaScript execution environment for web applications and is integral to modern web browsing experiences. The vulnerability specifically relates to improper access controls for built-in objects within the V8 runtime environment, creating potential pathways for malicious actors to exploit the system.
The technical flaw stems from insufficient restrictions on access to built-in JavaScript objects and their associated methods within the V8 engine. When Chrome browsers prior to version 14.0.835.163 execute JavaScript code, the V8 engine fails to properly validate or constrain access to internal objects that should remain protected from user-space manipulation. This oversight allows attackers to potentially access or manipulate privileged objects that normally should be restricted to the engine's internal operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple attack vectors, with remote exploitation being particularly concerning. An attacker could craft malicious JavaScript code that leverages this access restriction bypass to perform unauthorized operations within the browser environment. The unspecified nature of the impact indicates that the vulnerability could potentially enable a wide range of malicious activities including but not limited to arbitrary code execution, information disclosure, or privilege escalation within the browser sandbox. This represents a significant risk to user security as the vulnerability exists in the core execution engine of a widely used browser.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and demonstrates the importance of maintaining strict object-level security within runtime environments. The flaw also relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which covers JavaScript-based execution, as attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts with elevated privileges. Organizations should consider implementing browser security updates as a critical mitigation strategy, ensuring that all Chrome installations are updated to version 14.0.835.163 or later. Additionally, network security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can provide additional layers of protection by monitoring and blocking suspicious JavaScript execution patterns. The vulnerability underscores the necessity of robust sandboxing mechanisms and proper privilege separation within browser engines to prevent unauthorized access to system resources and maintain the integrity of user browsing sessions.