CVE-2011-3002 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine (ANGLE), as used in Mozilla Firefox before 7.0 and SeaMonkey before 2.4, does not validate the return value of a GrowAtomTable function call, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via vectors that trigger a memory-allocation error and a resulting buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/20/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2011-3002 represents a critical security flaw within the Almost Native Graphics Layer Engine (ANGLE) component that was integrated into Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 7.0 and SeaMonkey versions prior to 2.4. ANGLE serves as a graphics rendering library that translates Direct3D calls into OpenGL commands, enabling efficient graphics processing on Windows systems. This implementation flaw specifically targets the memory management mechanisms within the atom table handling functionality, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by remote attackers to compromise system integrity. The vulnerability manifests when the application fails to properly validate the return values from memory allocation functions, particularly the GrowAtomTable function which manages dynamic memory allocation for graphical elements and string handling within the rendering engine.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a specific sequence of memory allocation failures that lead to buffer overflow conditions. When ANGLE attempts to grow its internal atom table structure to accommodate additional graphical elements or string data, the GrowAtomTable function may fail to allocate sufficient memory or return an invalid pointer. The absence of proper return value validation means that the application continues execution with potentially corrupted memory pointers, leading to unpredictable behavior. This flaw falls under CWE-248, which specifically addresses "Uncaught Exception" conditions where programs fail to handle exceptional conditions properly, and it also relates to CWE-122, "Heap-based Buffer Overflow" as the memory corruption ultimately results in buffer overflow conditions that can be leveraged for code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it creates potential for remote code execution through carefully crafted attack vectors that trigger memory allocation failures. Attackers can exploit this weakness by constructing malicious web content or graphics elements that force the browser to request excessive memory allocations within the ANGLE subsystem. When the memory allocation fails and the application does not properly validate the return values, the resulting buffer overflow can be manipulated to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected browser process. This represents a significant concern within the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1190 "Exploit Public-Facing Application" as it enables attackers to exploit vulnerabilities in widely deployed browser components.
Organizations and users must implement immediate mitigation strategies to address this vulnerability, including updating to patched versions of Firefox 7.0 or later and SeaMonkey 2.4 or later where the return value validation has been properly implemented. The fix typically involves adding proper error checking around the GrowAtomTable function calls and implementing robust memory allocation validation routines that prevent execution from continuing when memory allocation fails. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious graphics-related content, implementing sandboxing mechanisms that limit the impact of potential exploitation, and monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns or application crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability pattern, as the memory corruption characteristics make it relatively identifiable through behavioral analysis of network traffic and system logs.