CVE-2011-3078 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 18.0.1025.168 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to the floating of elements, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-3081.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3078 represents a critical use-after-free condition affecting Google Chrome versions prior to 18.0.1025.168. This flaw resides within the browser's rendering engine and specifically manifests when processing certain HTML elements that undergo floating operations. The issue stems from improper memory management where freed memory locations are accessed after being deallocated, creating a scenario that can be exploited by remote attackers to manipulate browser behavior. Such vulnerabilities fall under the broader category of memory safety issues that have been extensively documented in industry standards including CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation for execution through memory corruption attacks.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs during the browser's layout and rendering process when handling floating elements in web pages. When Chrome processes HTML elements that utilize CSS float properties, the rendering engine may prematurely free memory associated with these elements while simultaneously attempting to access them in subsequent operations. This creates a race condition where memory that should no longer be accessible becomes available for manipulation by malicious actors. The floating element processing pathway in Chrome's JavaScript engine and rendering pipeline contains a flaw where element references are not properly validated before memory deallocation occurs, leading to the vulnerable state where freed memory can be accessed and potentially overwritten with malicious content.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3078 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the vulnerability could potentially enable remote code execution depending on the specific memory corruption patterns that occur. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that trigger the vulnerable code path when a user visits the page, causing the browser to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Chrome. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that users need not interact directly with malicious content, as simply visiting a compromised website can trigger the exploit. This characteristic makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or when embedded in malicious advertisements that can be served to unsuspecting users.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Chrome installations to version 18.0.1025.168 or later, as this update contains the necessary memory management fixes that prevent the use-after-free condition. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly, particularly given the remote exploitability of the vulnerability. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious web content, using browser security extensions that provide additional sandboxing, and configuring content filtering systems to restrict access to potentially malicious websites. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and demonstrates how seemingly minor rendering engine flaws can have significant security implications. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous browser behavior patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's impact can manifest in unpredictable ways during exploitation.