CVE-2011-3044 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 involving SVG animation elements.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3044 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 17.0.963.65 that specifically targets SVG animation elements within the browser's rendering engine. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating potential for arbitrary code execution or system instability. The issue manifests during the processing of Scalable Vector Graphics animation elements, which are commonly used in web applications to create dynamic visual content. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software systems. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web pages containing specially constructed SVG animation code that triggers the vulnerable memory management behavior when the browser attempts to render these elements.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves manipulating SVG animation elements in such a way that the browser's memory management system frees memory associated with animation objects while still maintaining references to them. When the browser subsequently attempts to access this freed memory during animation processing, it can result in undefined behavior that may be leveraged for denial of service attacks or potentially more severe exploits. The attack surface is particularly concerning because SVG elements are widely used in web applications, making this vulnerability applicable across numerous websites and web-based applications. The vulnerability demonstrates how complex rendering engines can introduce subtle memory management issues that become exploitable through carefully crafted inputs.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users of older Chrome versions as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The potential impact extends beyond simple denial of service to include unspecified other impacts that could potentially allow remote code execution or system compromise. Security researchers have documented similar patterns in browser exploitation where use-after-free vulnerabilities in graphics rendering components have been leveraged for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability affects the browser's core rendering functionality and demonstrates the inherent complexity of managing memory in modern web browsers that must handle diverse and complex multimedia content types.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3044 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 17.0.963.65 or later where the vulnerability has been patched. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious SVG content, using browser security extensions that restrict potentially dangerous content, and employing sandboxing techniques that limit the impact of any successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of keeping browser software current and demonstrates how vulnerabilities in core rendering components can have wide-reaching consequences for user security and system stability. Security teams should also consider monitoring network traffic for indicators of exploitation attempts and implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious SVG content patterns that may indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability.