CVE-2011-3101 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 19.0.1084.46 on Linux does not properly mitigate an unspecified flaw in an NVIDIA driver, which has unknown impact and attack vectors. NOTE: see CVE-2012-3105 for the related MFSA 2012-34 issue in Mozilla products.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2021
This vulnerability affects Google Chrome versions prior to 19.0.1084.46 on Linux operating systems and relates to an unspecified flaw within NVIDIA graphics drivers that Chrome fails to properly mitigate. The issue stems from the interaction between Chrome's graphics rendering capabilities and NVIDIA's proprietary driver implementation, creating a potential security gap that could be exploited by malicious actors. The vulnerability classification aligns with CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Buffer Boundary, as it involves improper handling of graphics memory operations that could lead to buffer overflows or similar memory corruption issues. The attack vectors remain unspecified, suggesting that the exact exploitation methods are not publicly documented, but the potential for privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution exists within the graphics processing subsystem. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because graphics drivers operate at a low system level with elevated privileges, making them attractive targets for attackers seeking to gain deeper system access. This issue specifically impacts Linux systems where NVIDIA graphics hardware is present, as the problem is tied to driver-level interactions rather than browser-specific code.
The technical flaw manifests in Chrome's graphics processing pipeline where it fails to properly sanitize or validate graphics driver operations that occur during rendering tasks. When Chrome processes web content that requires graphics acceleration, it interacts with the NVIDIA driver through the operating system's graphics subsystem. The lack of proper mitigation suggests that Chrome does not adequately handle error conditions or boundary checks when communicating with the NVIDIA driver, potentially allowing for memory corruption or privilege escalation scenarios. This vulnerability operates within the context of the ATT&CK framework under T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as it could enable attackers to leverage graphics processing capabilities for system compromise. The unspecified nature of the attack vectors indicates that the flaw may manifest through multiple pathways including but not limited to heap-based buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or memory corruption during graphics command processing. The vulnerability represents a classic case of insufficient input validation in graphics driver interfaces, where Chrome's graphics processing code does not properly validate or constrain the data it passes to the NVIDIA driver.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser compromise, as it could potentially allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with graphics driver privileges or escalate privileges to gain deeper system access. On Linux systems with NVIDIA graphics hardware, this could enable attackers to bypass standard browser sandboxing mechanisms and gain access to system-level resources. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution makes it particularly dangerous in web browsing contexts where users may encounter malicious content. Additionally, the impact could extend to system stability, as memory corruption in graphics drivers could lead to system crashes or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects a specific version range of Chrome, indicating that the flaw was present in the graphics processing implementation but was subsequently addressed through driver-level mitigations or Chrome's own code modifications. Organizations using older versions of Chrome on Linux systems with NVIDIA hardware are particularly at risk, as they lack the security mitigations that were implemented in later versions. The vulnerability's classification as a graphics driver interaction issue means that it could potentially affect other applications that rely on the same NVIDIA driver interfaces, creating a broader impact than initially apparent.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate Chrome version updates to 19.0.1084.46 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the NVIDIA driver interaction issues. System administrators should also ensure that NVIDIA drivers are kept current with the latest security patches, as driver-level vulnerabilities often require updates from both the browser vendor and graphics hardware manufacturer. Organizations should consider implementing additional security measures such as browser sandboxing configurations, privilege separation, and monitoring for unusual graphics driver activity. The mitigation approach aligns with industry best practices for managing graphics-related vulnerabilities, which typically involve coordinated updates from both software and hardware vendors. In environments where immediate updates are not feasible, temporary workarounds such as disabling hardware graphics acceleration in Chrome can reduce the attack surface, though this may impact user experience and performance. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting graphics driver interfaces, and security teams should implement regular vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected Chrome versions. The vulnerability's resolution through Chrome version updates demonstrates the importance of maintaining current browser software and highlights the interconnected nature of security vulnerabilities across different software layers. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all affected systems.