CVE-2011-3085 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The Autofill feature in Google Chrome before 19.0.1084.46 does not properly restrict field values, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (UI corruption) and possibly conduct spoofing attacks via vectors involving long values.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3085 affects the Autofill functionality within Google Chrome browsers prior to version 19.0.1084.46. This issue stems from inadequate validation mechanisms within the browser's form filling system that processes user input data. The flaw manifests when the browser encounters exceptionally long field values during the autofill process, creating a scenario where the user interface becomes corrupted and potentially manipulated by malicious actors. The vulnerability represents a significant security concern as it can be exploited remotely without requiring any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the browser's handling of form field data during the autofill operation. When Chrome processes form inputs that contain unusually long strings, the internal mechanisms responsible for displaying and managing these values fail to properly truncate or validate the input length. This lack of proper field value restriction creates a condition where the browser's user interface rendering engine becomes overwhelmed or misconfigured, leading to visual corruption of the interface elements. The flaw specifically impacts the browser's ability to manage memory allocation and display management for form fields, creating an environment where malicious input can cause unintended behavior.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to execute denial of service attacks by corrupting the browser's user interface, rendering the affected page unusable and forcing users to restart their browser sessions. The impact extends beyond simple service disruption as the vulnerability can also facilitate spoofing attacks where attackers manipulate form fields to display false information or create misleading user interface elements. This capability allows for phishing attempts where users might be tricked into entering sensitive information into compromised forms that appear legitimate. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can target users through web-based attacks without requiring any local system access or user interaction beyond navigating to a malicious website.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-122, which addresses improper restriction of operations within a limited error handling scope, and can be categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1059 for system execution and T1566 for spearphishing with a specific focus on credential access. Organizations using affected Chrome versions face increased risk of user interface manipulation attacks that can lead to data theft, session hijacking, and other malicious activities. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor input validation flaws can create significant security risks in browser applications, particularly when dealing with user interface rendering components that must handle diverse input data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3085 require immediate browser version updates to Chrome 19.0.1084.46 or later, which contain the necessary fixes for proper field value validation. System administrators should implement network-level controls to monitor and block access to known malicious domains that may exploit this vulnerability. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping their browser software updated. Organizations should consider implementing browser hardening measures that restrict access to potentially malicious websites and deploy security monitoring tools that can detect unusual browser behavior patterns. Regular security assessments should include verification of browser versions and patch status to ensure complete protection against this and similar vulnerabilities. The fix implemented in the patched version addresses the core issue by introducing proper input length validation and enhanced field value restriction mechanisms within the Autofill subsystem.