CVE-2011-2880 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 14.0.835.202 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to the Google V8 bindings.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/23/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2880 represents a critical use-after-free flaw affecting Google Chrome versions prior to 14.0.835.202. This issue resides within the Google V8 JavaScript engine bindings, which serve as the core execution environment for JavaScript code in Chrome. The vulnerability arises from improper memory management practices where freed memory locations are still referenced or accessed by subsequent operations, creating a dangerous state that can be exploited by malicious actors. The affected V8 bindings mechanism handles the interaction between JavaScript and native C++ code, making it a prime target for exploitation due to the complex memory management requirements inherent in such hybrid environments.
The technical exploitation of this use-after-free vulnerability occurs when remote attackers can manipulate JavaScript code to trigger memory deallocation followed by subsequent access to the same memory locations. This specific flaw in Chrome's V8 engine bindings allows attackers to craft malicious web pages that when loaded in the browser, cause the JavaScript engine to free memory segments while JavaScript code continues to reference those locations. The memory corruption resulting from this improper handling can lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes, memory corruption, or potentially more severe consequences depending on the specific memory layout and access patterns. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-416 indicates improper deallocation of memory resources, while its exploitation pattern aligns with techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1059.007 for JavaScript-based execution and T1499.004 for denial of service operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the use-after-free condition creates opportunities for more sophisticated attacks. When memory is freed and subsequently accessed, attackers can potentially manipulate the memory layout to execute arbitrary code or escalate privileges. The remote nature of the attack vector means that users can be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios. The V8 engine's role in handling JavaScript execution makes this a high-value target, as JavaScript code is commonly executed in web browsers and can be easily delivered through web pages without requiring additional user interaction beyond normal browsing. The vulnerability's potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that attackers might be able to leverage the memory corruption for privilege escalation or information disclosure, though the exact scope of these possibilities requires detailed analysis of the specific memory access patterns and system configurations involved.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-2880 primarily focus on immediate patching and browser updates to ensure users operate on versions that contain the necessary memory management fixes. Google's release of Chrome version 14.0.835.202 addressed this vulnerability through improved memory handling in the V8 engine bindings, implementing proper reference counting and memory validation mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize updating their Chrome installations to versions 14.0.835.202 or later, as this represents the first version that properly resolves the use-after-free condition in the V8 JavaScript engine. Additional protective measures include implementing browser security policies such as sandboxing, disabling unnecessary JavaScript features, and employing web application firewalls to filter potentially malicious content. The vulnerability's resolution demonstrates the importance of proper memory management in JavaScript engines and highlights how seemingly simple memory handling errors can create significant security risks in modern web browsers. Security teams should also monitor for similar patterns in other JavaScript engines and browser components, as use-after-free vulnerabilities often occur in complex systems where multiple memory management contexts interact, making comprehensive testing and validation of memory handling procedures essential for maintaining secure browser environments.