CVE-2011-3041 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 17.0.963.65 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to the handling of class attributes.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3041 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 17.0.963.65 that enables remote attackers to exploit memory management issues through improper handling of class attributes within web content. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which occurs when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior and security risks. The flaw specifically manifests during the processing of class attributes in web documents, making it particularly dangerous in web browsing environments where users frequently encounter dynamically generated content from untrusted sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the browser's memory management system by manipulating class attribute handling in a way that causes the application to reference freed memory locations. When Chrome processes HTML elements with class attributes, the memory allocated for these structures becomes corrupted or freed prematurely, but the application continues to access this memory, resulting in potential crashes or more severe consequences. This type of vulnerability is particularly insidious because it can be triggered through normal web browsing activities, requiring no special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The attack vector leverages the browser's rendering engine's failure to properly validate memory references during attribute processing, creating a pathway for attackers to either cause denial of service through crashes or potentially execute arbitrary code depending on the memory layout and timing conditions.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3041 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the use-after-free condition could potentially be exploited for more sophisticated attacks within the context of the attacker's control over the compromised system. When attackers successfully trigger this vulnerability, they can cause Chrome to crash or behave unpredictably, disrupting user sessions and potentially providing a foothold for further exploitation. The vulnerability's remote nature means that users can be compromised without any direct interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, making it particularly dangerous in the context of web-based attacks. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211 which involves exploiting memory corruption vulnerabilities to gain code execution capabilities. The vulnerability affects the browser's core rendering and memory management functions, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate the browser's execution flow or escalate privileges through memory corruption exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3041 primarily focus on immediate patching of affected Chrome versions, as Google released version 17.0.963.65 to address this specific memory management flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies that ensure all users have the latest security patches installed, particularly in enterprise environments where legacy browser versions may persist. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, content filtering systems, and browser security extensions that can help detect and block malicious content targeting such vulnerabilities. Security teams should also consider deploying monitoring solutions that can detect unusual browser behavior patterns associated with memory corruption exploits, and establish incident response procedures specifically designed to handle browser-based memory corruption vulnerabilities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security assessments and continuous monitoring of browser security updates, as this type of memory management flaw can have significant implications for user security and system integrity when exploited remotely.