CVE-2011-3083 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
browser/profiles/profile_impl_io_data.cc in Google Chrome before 19.0.1084.46 does not properly handle a malformed ftp URL in the SRC attribute of a VIDEO element, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and application crash) via a crafted web page.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3083 represents a critical denial of service flaw within Google Chrome browser versions prior to 19.0.1084.46. This issue specifically resides in the browser/profiles/profile_impl_io_data.cc component which handles internet protocol data processing. The vulnerability manifests when Chrome encounters a malformed ftp URL within the SRC attribute of an HTML VIDEO element, creating a scenario where the application fails to properly validate and process such malformed input. The flaw stems from inadequate input sanitization mechanisms that do not account for malformed ftp URL structures, particularly those that could result in null pointer dereference conditions during normal processing operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through crafted web pages that embed malicious VIDEO elements with malformed ftp URLs in their SRC attributes. When Chrome attempts to process these elements, the browser's internal handling mechanism fails to properly validate the ftp URL format, leading to a NULL pointer dereference condition. This condition causes the browser application to crash immediately upon encountering the malformed URL, resulting in a complete denial of service for the affected user. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and requires no special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, making it particularly dangerous for web-based attack scenarios. The flaw demonstrates poor error handling practices in Chrome's URL parsing and validation subsystems, where malformed inputs are not properly caught and handled before reaching critical memory access points.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute successful denial of service attacks against Chrome users without requiring any authentication or privileged access. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it can be delivered through standard web browsing activities, making it difficult to defend against through traditional network security measures. Users visiting compromised websites or clicking on malicious links containing the crafted VIDEO elements would experience immediate browser crashes, disrupting their browsing experience and potentially providing attackers with a method to target specific user populations. The vulnerability affects all Chrome users running versions prior to 19.0.1084.46, representing a significant security gap in the browser's input validation capabilities and highlighting the importance of proper URL parsing mechanisms in web applications.
The vulnerability maps directly to CWE-476 which describes NULL pointer dereference conditions in software implementations. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks through application-level exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer over-read or improper input validation issue that could be exploited in conjunction with other attack vectors to create more sophisticated attacks. Security practitioners should note that this vulnerability represents a fundamental flaw in Chrome's URL handling mechanisms that could potentially be extended to other similar elements or attributes. Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment for all affected Chrome versions, along with enhanced input validation in web applications that process user-provided URLs or media elements. The incident underscores the critical importance of robust input validation and error handling in browser security implementations, particularly for media elements that process external resources. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser security policies that include automatic update mechanisms and regular security assessments to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.