CVE-2011-3925 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the Safe Browsing feature in Google Chrome before 16.0.912.75 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption) or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors related to a navigation entry and an interstitial page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3925 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Google Chrome's Safe Browsing implementation, affecting versions prior to 16.0.912.75. This issue resides in the browser's mechanism for detecting and blocking malicious websites, specifically within how Chrome handles navigation entries and interstitial pages during web browsing sessions. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices where freed memory locations are still referenced, creating potential attack vectors for remote exploitation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through manipulation of the Safe Browsing feature's interaction with navigation entries and interstitial pages. When Chrome processes web navigation and displays security warnings or interstitial pages, the memory management system fails to properly handle the lifecycle of allocated objects. This use-after-free condition manifests when the browser attempts to access memory that has already been deallocated, leading to heap memory corruption. The flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through normal web browsing activities, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to compromise user systems without requiring specialized knowledge or privileged access.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to both individual users and enterprise environments. The potential impacts include denial of service attacks that can crash the browser or cause system instability, as well as possible code execution capabilities that could allow attackers to run arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process. The memory corruption resulting from this flaw can lead to unpredictable behavior including application crashes, data loss, or system-wide instability. Organizations relying on Chrome for web browsing operations face potential security breaches and service interruptions, particularly in environments where users frequently encounter malicious websites or where the Safe Browsing feature is actively utilized.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in memory management, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with attack patterns found in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1203 technique for "Exploitation for Client Execution." This classification indicates that the vulnerability can be leveraged for client-side exploitation, where attackers target end-user systems through web-based attack vectors. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader threat modeling activities, particularly when assessing risks associated with browser-based attacks and memory corruption vulnerabilities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3925 primarily involve immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to 16.0.912.75 or later, which includes memory management improvements and proper object lifecycle handling. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies and consider deploying automated patch management systems to ensure timely remediation. Network administrators may also employ additional protective measures such as web filtering solutions and enhanced monitoring of browser-related memory corruption indicators. Regular security assessments should include verification of browser versions and security configurations to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also involve user education regarding safe browsing practices and the importance of keeping software updated to protect against known security flaws.