CVE-2011-3018 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in Google Chrome before 17.0.963.56 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to path rendering.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3018 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in Google Chrome versions prior to 17.0.963.56 that exposes users to significant security risks through remote code execution and denial of service attacks. This flaw specifically manifests during path rendering operations within the browser's graphics processing subsystem, where insufficient input validation allows malicious actors to manipulate memory allocation patterns and overwrite adjacent heap memory regions. The vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking permits writes beyond allocated memory boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when Chrome processes vector graphics or complex path rendering operations that involve user-controllable input data. Attackers can craft malicious web pages containing specially crafted vector path data that triggers the buffer overflow during rendering. The heap corruption typically results in memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Chrome process, or alternatively cause the browser to crash and terminate unexpectedly. This dual nature of impact makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be used both for persistent exploitation and for denial of service attacks against targeted systems.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations relying on Chrome as their primary browser due to the remote attack surface and the potential for privilege escalation. The attack requires no local privileges and can be delivered through standard web browsing activities, making it highly exploitable in real-world scenarios. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond individual user sessions to potentially affect entire organizational networks when exploited through phishing campaigns or compromised websites. Security analysts note that the vulnerability's exploitation often requires user interaction through malicious web content, but the widespread use of Chrome makes successful exploitation likely across various threat actor campaigns.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patch deployment to address this vulnerability through the official Chrome update mechanism, as the affected versions lack proper input validation for path rendering operations. The recommended mitigation strategy involves implementing network-based controls such as web application firewalls to filter malicious vector graphics content and maintaining strict browser update policies. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing browser hardening measures including sandboxing configurations and restricted browsing environments to limit potential impact. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script-based attacks and T1498 for denial of service operations emphasizes the need for comprehensive security controls addressing both exploitation and impact mitigation strategies.