CVE-2011-3919 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in libxml2, as used in Google Chrome before 16.0.912.75, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/13/2021
The heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in libxml2 represents a critical security flaw that affected Google Chrome versions prior to 16.0.912.75. This vulnerability resides within the XML parsing library that Chrome uses to process web content, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through web-based attacks. The issue stems from improper memory management during XML document processing, specifically when handling malformed or maliciously crafted XML data that triggers buffer overflow conditions in the heap memory allocation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the libxml2 library's failure to properly validate input boundaries when parsing XML content. When Chrome encounters XML data that exceeds allocated buffer sizes, the heap memory management system experiences overflow conditions that can corrupt adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow classification, which is categorized as a memory safety issue where data written to heap memory exceeds the allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability's exploitation potential extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable arbitrary code execution, making it particularly concerning for browser environments where users frequently encounter untrusted content.
The operational impact of this vulnerability manifests through several attack vectors that leverage web-based delivery mechanisms. Remote attackers can craft malicious web pages containing specially formatted XML content that, when processed by the vulnerable Chrome version, triggers the buffer overflow condition. This can result in application crashes, memory corruption, or potentially more severe consequences including privilege escalation or code execution within the browser's sandboxed environment. The vulnerability's exploitation is particularly effective against the browser's XML processing capabilities, as modern web applications increasingly rely on XML for data exchange and content management. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability aligns with T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter techniques, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through compromised browser processes.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to 16.0.912.75 or later, which incorporates fixes to libxml2's memory handling routines. Organizations should also implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious XML content patterns, while browser hardening measures including sandboxing and strict content security policies provide additional defense layers. System administrators should monitor for exploitation attempts through security information and event management systems, particularly looking for unusual memory allocation patterns or application crashes that may indicate buffer overflow exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's resolution demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date third-party libraries and implementing robust memory safety practices in software development lifecycle processes.