CVE-2011-3089 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 tables.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3089 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 19.0.1084.46 that exposes the browser to remote exploitation. This type of vulnerability occurs when a program continues to reference memory that has already been freed, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory contents and potentially execute arbitrary code. The specific context involves table-related elements within the browser's rendering engine, suggesting that the flaw manifests when processing HTML table structures or related DOM operations. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be triggered through web content without requiring user interaction, making them ideal candidates for drive-by attacks.
The technical implementation of this use-after-free vulnerability stems from improper memory management within Chrome's JavaScript engine or rendering components that handle table elements. When the browser processes table structures, it allocates memory for table objects and their associated properties, but fails to properly validate or manage the lifecycle of these memory allocations. Attackers can craft malicious web pages containing specially constructed table elements that trigger the memory deallocation process, followed by attempts to access the freed memory location. This pattern creates a race condition where the memory can be reused for other purposes while the application still maintains references to it, leading to unpredictable behavior. The vulnerability falls under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as indicated by the "possibly have unspecified other impact" description in the CVE entry. Remote attackers could potentially leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, leading to complete system compromise. The browser's sandboxing mechanisms, while providing some protection, may not fully prevent exploitation of such memory corruption vulnerabilities, especially when combined with other attack vectors or when targeting specific system configurations. The vulnerability affects a wide range of users since web browsers are essential components of modern computing environments, and the exploit could be delivered through compromised websites, malicious advertisements, or phishing campaigns. Organizations running older Chrome versions face significant risk exposure, particularly in enterprise environments where browser updates may be delayed or restricted.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3089 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates. Users and organizations should prioritize updating to Chrome version 19.0.1084.46 or later, which includes patches addressing the memory management issues in table processing. Additionally, implementing network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can provide temporary defense while updates are deployed. Browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary JavaScript features, implementing strict content security policies, and using sandboxing configurations can reduce the attack surface. Security teams should also monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and implement intrusion detection systems that can identify patterns associated with table-based memory corruption attacks. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing focused on browser security can help identify similar memory management flaws in other browser components or related applications. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing to ensure that updates do not introduce compatibility issues with existing web applications or enterprise systems.