CVE-2011-3106 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The WebSockets implementation in Google Chrome before 19.0.1084.52 does not properly handle use of SSL, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3106 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's WebSockets implementation prior to version 19.0.1084.52. This issue stems from improper handling of Secure Sockets Layer protocols within the browser's WebSocket communication framework, creating a significant attack surface that adversaries could exploit to compromise system integrity. The vulnerability manifests when Chrome processes WebSocket connections that utilize SSL/TLS encryption, failing to properly validate or manage the secure communication channels that should protect against man-in-the-middle attacks and data corruption.
The technical nature of this flaw involves memory corruption vulnerabilities that occur during SSL processing within the WebSocket protocol implementation. Attackers could leverage this weakness through unspecified vectors that manipulate how Chrome handles secure WebSocket connections, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions. The memory corruption aspect suggests that malicious actors might be able to manipulate memory structures through carefully crafted WebSocket traffic, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or complete system compromise. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read errors that can occur during memory management operations.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses severe risks to users of affected Chrome versions, particularly in enterprise environments where WebSocket-based applications are prevalent. The ability to execute arbitrary code remotely means that attackers could gain full control over affected systems, potentially leading to data breaches, system compromise, or lateral movement within networks. Organizations relying on WebSocket technologies for real-time communication, gaming platforms, financial applications, or collaborative tools would face heightened risk exposure. The denial of service component further compounds the threat landscape by allowing attackers to disrupt legitimate service availability, potentially causing business continuity issues and operational downtime.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and control through compromised systems, T1071 for application layer protocol usage, and T1489 for denial of service attacks. Security professionals should implement immediate mitigation strategies including mandatory browser updates to Chrome version 19.0.1084.52 or later, network monitoring for suspicious WebSocket traffic patterns, and enhanced security configurations that restrict WebSocket connections to trusted sources only. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems that can identify and block malicious WebSocket traffic patterns. The remediation process requires comprehensive testing of updated browser versions to ensure compatibility with existing WebSocket-based applications while maintaining security posture against this specific memory corruption vulnerability.