CVE-2011-3893 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 15.0.874.120 does not properly implement the MKV and Vorbis media handlers, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via unspecified vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3893 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 15.0.874.120, specifically within the MKV and Vorbis media handling components. This issue arises from insufficient input validation and memory management within the browser's multimedia processing pipeline, creating a potential avenue for remote exploitation that could result in denial of service conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the browser's handling of Matroska (MKV) and Vorbis audio format files, which are commonly used multimedia containers. When Chrome processes these media files, the underlying codecs fail to properly validate the structure and boundaries of the data being parsed. This deficiency allows attackers to craft malicious media files that contain malformed data structures, causing the browser's media handler to attempt reading memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw operates at the intersection of multimedia processing and memory safety, where the lack of proper bounds checking enables arbitrary memory access patterns.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users who may inadvertently encounter malicious media content through web browsing activities, email attachments, or malicious websites. The out-of-bounds read condition can trigger browser crashes, leading to complete denial of service for the affected user. While the primary impact is denial of service rather than arbitrary code execution, the vulnerability's potential for causing widespread browser instability and user disruption makes it particularly concerning in enterprise environments where browser reliability is critical. The vulnerability's remote nature means that exploitation does not require user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it a serious threat vector.
The security implications extend beyond simple service disruption, as this flaw aligns with common attack patterns described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1203 technique for legitimate program execution. The vulnerability demonstrates poor implementation practices that violate fundamental security principles, particularly those related to input validation and memory safety. From a CWE perspective, this represents a classic example of CWE-125, out-of-bounds read, combined with CWE-787, out-of-bounds write, indicating inadequate bounds checking in memory operations. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions, implement network-based protections such as content filtering, and consider browser hardening measures. Regular security updates, user education regarding suspicious content, and monitoring for exploitation attempts remain essential defensive measures. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of comprehensive testing for multimedia processing components and adherence to secure coding practices in browser development, particularly when handling complex media formats that require extensive parsing and memory management operations.