CVE-2011-3053 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 17.0.963.83 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to block splitting.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2021
The CVE-2011-3053 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 17.0.963.83 that exposes the browser to potential remote exploitation. This vulnerability specifically manifests during block splitting operations within the browser's memory management system, creating a scenario where freed memory locations can be accessed and manipulated by malicious actors. The issue stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes, particularly when the browser encounters certain JavaScript or DOM operations that trigger memory block splitting mechanisms.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's JavaScript engine and memory management subsystems working in conjunction to create a race condition or memory corruption scenario. When Chrome processes certain web content that triggers block splitting, the memory management code fails to properly track or invalidate references to previously freed memory regions. This allows remote attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service by manipulating the memory layout through crafted web pages. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser memory management and JavaScript execution, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for Chrome users as it can be exploited remotely without any user interaction or privilege escalation. The potential impacts range from denial of service conditions that crash the browser to more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution and privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects the core browser functionality and can be leveraged by attackers to compromise user systems, making it a high-priority security concern for organizations relying on Chrome as their primary web browser. The remote exploitation capability means that attackers can target users through standard web browsing channels, potentially affecting thousands of users simultaneously.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software implementations. This classification indicates that the flaw involves accessing memory after it has been freed, creating opportunities for memory corruption and exploitation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving memory injection and code execution, specifically targeting the browser's memory management and JavaScript engine components. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage. The recommended mitigation strategy includes updating to Chrome version 17.0.963.83 or later, implementing network-based security controls, and monitoring for potential exploitation attempts through web traffic analysis.