CVE-2011-3088 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 19.0.1084.46 does not properly draw hairlines, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3088 represents a critical rendering flaw within Google Chrome browser versions prior to 19.0.1084.46. This issue manifests in the browser's handling of hairline drawing operations within its graphics rendering engine, specifically affecting how the browser processes and displays extremely thin lines or strokes. The flaw exists in the browser's visual rendering subsystem where hairline elements are processed, creating an exploitable condition that can be triggered through malicious web content.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during the rendering of hairline graphics elements. When Chrome encounters certain CSS properties or graphical operations that specify extremely thin stroke widths, the rendering engine fails to properly validate the boundaries of these operations. This insufficient validation leads to out-of-bounds memory reads where the browser attempts to access memory locations outside the intended buffer boundaries. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of graphics rendering and memory management, creating a condition where attacker-controlled input can cause the browser to read invalid memory locations, potentially leading to information disclosure or system instability.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against Chrome users by simply visiting compromised websites or viewing malicious web content. The attack requires no special privileges or user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may encounter malicious content through phishing campaigns or compromised web applications. The out-of-bounds read condition can cause Chrome to crash or behave unpredictably, effectively denying users access to the browser functionality and potentially providing attackers with opportunities to escalate the attack vector.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions in software systems. This classification indicates that the vulnerability allows for memory access beyond allocated boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive data or causing application instability. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves the exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access or cause system disruption. The vulnerability's presence in the rendering engine also relates to T1059, as attackers can leverage web-based exploitation techniques to target browser components directly. Organizations should prioritize patching affected Chrome versions to mitigate this risk, as the vulnerability affects a core browser function and provides a straightforward path for remote exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3088 primarily involve immediate deployment of Chrome version 19.0.1084.46 or later, which includes the necessary fixes to properly handle hairline drawing operations. Security teams should implement automated patch management systems to ensure all browser installations remain current with security updates. Additionally, network-level controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can help reduce exposure by blocking access to known malicious domains. Browser hardening techniques including sandboxing and privilege separation should be enabled to limit the potential impact if exploitation occurs. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for outdated browser versions to prevent exploitation of this and similar rendering-based vulnerabilities.