CVE-2011-3922 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Stack-based buffer overflow in Google Chrome before 16.0.912.75 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to glyph handling.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3922 represents a critical stack-based buffer overflow flaw discovered in Google Chrome versions prior to 16.0.912.75. This vulnerability specifically manifests during the processing of glyph handling operations within the browser's rendering engine, creating a dangerous condition that can be exploited by remote attackers to compromise system integrity. The flaw exists in the manner in which Chrome processes font data and glyph information, particularly when handling malformed or specially crafted font files that contain excessive data in glyph tables. Such conditions can lead to memory corruption that manifests through stack overflow vulnerabilities, where the program attempts to write data beyond the allocated stack buffer boundaries.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow conditions, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the program stack. This particular implementation flaw occurs during font rendering operations, specifically when Chrome's graphics subsystem processes font data structures that contain malformed glyph information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through normal web browsing activities, requiring no special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. Attackers can craft specially designed web pages containing malformed font data that, when rendered by Chrome, causes the buffer overflow to occur during the glyph processing phase, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or complete browser crash.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more severe compromise scenarios. While the primary effect is described as denial of service, the unspecified other impacts referenced in the CVE description suggest that attackers could leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code within the context of the Chrome process. This represents a significant escalation from simple service disruption to potential system compromise, particularly given Chrome's privileged execution environment and its access to user data and system resources. The vulnerability affects all versions of Chrome prior to 16.0.912.75 and represents a critical security concern for users who have not updated their browsers to patched versions. The attack surface is broad as it can be exploited through any web content that triggers font rendering, making it particularly dangerous in the context of modern web browsing where multimedia content is prevalent.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3922 primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 16.0.912.75 or later, which contain the necessary patches to address the buffer overflow condition. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly, as the vulnerability remains exploitable in unpatched versions. Additional defensive measures include implementing web content filtering solutions that can block potentially malicious font data, utilizing sandboxing features that limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts, and monitoring for unusual browser behavior or crash patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Security professionals should also consider deploying intrusion detection systems capable of identifying patterns associated with buffer overflow exploitation attempts and implementing browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary font rendering features. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in complex software systems, particularly those handling untrusted data from external sources.