CVE-2011-3970 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
libxslt, as used in Google Chrome before 17.0.963.46, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3970 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the libxslt library component that was integrated into Google Chrome browser versions prior to 17.0.963.46. This issue arises from improper input validation and memory management within the XSLT (Extensible Stylesheet Language Transformations) processing engine that Chrome utilizes for rendering web content. The flaw specifically manifests when the browser encounters malformed XSLT stylesheets or XML documents that trigger unexpected memory access patterns during the transformation process. Such out-of-bounds reads can occur when the library attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior and system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of XSLT processing within web pages, where attackers can craft malicious content that forces the libxslt library to read memory locations that are not properly validated or constrained. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions in software implementations. The attack vector typically involves delivering specially crafted XSLT content through web pages or documents that are processed by Chrome's rendering engine, where the vulnerability manifests during the parsing and transformation phases of XML data. The flaw is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through normal web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting compromised websites.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security risks for users of affected Chrome versions as it enables remote attackers to potentially cause system instability and denial of service conditions. The out-of-bounds read can result in application crashes, memory corruption, and in some cases, may provide a foothold for more sophisticated attacks that could lead to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability affects not only the immediate browser functionality but also represents a broader concern for web application security, as it demonstrates how third-party library components can introduce critical flaws that impact browser security. The specific version range affected highlights the importance of timely security updates and patch management practices, as users running older Chrome versions remain exposed to potential exploitation.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to Google Chrome version 17.0.963.46 or later, which includes patches that address the memory handling issues within the libxslt library. Security administrators should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts through malformed XSLT content and consider implementing web application firewalls that can filter suspicious XML processing requests. Organizations should maintain comprehensive patch management procedures and regularly update all browser components to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities. Additionally, the incident underscores the importance of the ATT&CK framework's T1211 technique related to exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities, emphasizing how such flaws can be leveraged for broader attack chains. The vulnerability also highlights the need for robust input validation and memory safety practices in third-party libraries, as the flaw originated from the libxslt component rather than Chrome's core browser functionality, demonstrating the interconnected nature of modern software security.