CVE-2011-3914 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The internationalization (aka i18n) functionality in Google V8, as used in Google Chrome before 16.0.912.63, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors that trigger an out-of-bounds write.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3914 resides within the internationalization functionality of Google V8 JavaScript engine, which serves as the core execution environment for Google Chrome browser versions prior to 16.0.912.63. This flaw represents a critical security issue that affects the foundational JavaScript processing capabilities of the browser, potentially enabling remote attackers to exploit the system through unspecified vectors that lead to out-of-bounds write conditions. The V8 engine's internationalization features are designed to handle complex text processing and localization requirements for global web applications, making this vulnerability particularly concerning as it impacts the fundamental text handling mechanisms that many web applications depend upon.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition within the i18n implementation, where malicious input can cause the JavaScript engine to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries. This type of flaw typically occurs when input validation is insufficient or when the engine fails to properly bounds-check array accesses during internationalization operations. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. These memory safety issues can result in unpredictable behavior including crashes, memory corruption, and potentially arbitrary code execution depending on the specific circumstances of the exploit.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-3914 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the unspecified other impacts could potentially allow remote code execution or privilege escalation. Attackers could craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in vulnerable Chrome versions, trigger the out-of-bounds write condition through carefully constructed internationalization data. This could lead to browser crashes, rendering the application unusable, or more severe consequences such as complete system compromise if the memory corruption allows for code execution. The vulnerability affects a broad user base since the i18n functionality is commonly used in web applications that support multiple languages, making exploitation relatively straightforward for attackers targeting Chrome users.
Organizations and users should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to mitigate this vulnerability, as Google released version 16.0.912.63 with fixes addressing this specific issue. The remediation strategy should include comprehensive browser updates across all affected systems, along with monitoring for any signs of exploitation attempts. Security teams should also implement network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for traffic patterns indicative of exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability. Additionally, the incident highlights the importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in JavaScript engine implementations, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript-based attacks and emphasizing the need for secure coding practices in high-impact components like browser engines. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical security considerations required when implementing complex internationalization features that process untrusted user input.