CVE-2011-3915 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Google Chrome before 16.0.912.63 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to PDF fonts.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3915 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw discovered in Google Chrome versions prior to 16.0.912.63. This security defect specifically targets the browser's handling of PDF font data, creating a potential attack vector that could be exploited by remote adversaries to compromise system integrity. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation when processing font information within PDF documents, allowing attackers to craft malicious PDF files that trigger memory corruption during rendering operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking occurs during memory allocation and data copying operations. When Chrome processes PDF documents containing malformed font data, the browser's PDF rendering engine fails to properly validate the size and structure of font resources, leading to memory corruption that can result in arbitrary code execution or system instability. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of a widely used web browser, making exploitation relatively accessible to threat actors.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Chrome as their primary browser for web-based applications and document viewing. Attackers could leverage this flaw to deliver malicious PDF files through various attack vectors including phishing campaigns, compromised websites, or social engineering tactics. The potential consequences extend beyond simple denial of service to include complete system compromise, as the buffer overflow could be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Chrome process. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of remote services through buffer overflow vulnerabilities.
The remediation strategy for CVE-2011-3915 involves immediate deployment of Chrome version 16.0.912.63 or later, which includes patches addressing the buffer overflow conditions in PDF font processing. Organizations should also implement defensive measures such as PDF content filtering, sandboxing mechanisms, and regular security updates to minimize exposure windows. Network administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls and content inspection tools to detect and block malicious PDF files before they reach end-user systems. Additionally, user education regarding the risks of opening untrusted PDF documents remains crucial in reducing successful exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing layered security approaches to protect against sophisticated attack vectors targeting browser rendering engines.