CVE-2011-3086 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Google Chrome before 19.0.1084.46 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors involving a STYLE element.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3086 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 19.0.1084.46 that exposes users to potential remote code execution or denial of service attacks through maliciously crafted web content. This vulnerability specifically manifests when Chrome processes STYLE elements within HTML documents, creating a scenario where memory previously allocated to a style object is accessed after it has been freed by the browser's memory management system. The flaw falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-416, which specifically addresses the use of freed memory conditions that can lead to unpredictable behavior and security exploits.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when a malicious web page contains a STYLE element that triggers a specific sequence of DOM operations and memory deallocation events. When Chrome processes such content, it creates a race condition where a reference to a freed memory location persists, allowing attackers to manipulate the memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The attack vector leverages the browser's rendering engine and CSS processing capabilities, making it a prime target for sophisticated cyberattacks that can be delivered through compromised websites or malicious advertisements.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3086 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the use-after-free condition can potentially be escalated to full remote code execution. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to inject malicious code into the browser process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability affects the core rendering engine of Chrome, making it particularly impactful since it can be triggered through standard web browsing operations. Organizations using older versions of Chrome face significant risk exposure, as this vulnerability can be leveraged in drive-by download attacks where simply visiting a compromised website can result in system compromise.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates, with Google releasing Chrome version 19.0.1084.46 to address the specific memory management issues. System administrators should prioritize patching affected systems and implementing security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures include deploying web application firewalls, implementing content security policies, and using browser hardening techniques that limit the attack surface. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and maintaining up-to-date browser versions as part of comprehensive cybersecurity defense strategies. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and remote code execution, emphasizing the need for layered security controls that can detect and prevent such exploitation attempts.