CVE-2014-1731 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
core/html/HTMLSelectElement.cpp in the DOM implementation in Blink, as used in Google Chrome before 34.0.1847.131 on Windows and OS X and before 34.0.1847.132 on Linux, does not properly check renderer state upon a focus event, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact via vectors that leverage "type confusion" for SELECT elements.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/12/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1731 resides within the Blink rendering engine's implementation of the Document Object Model, specifically in the HTMLSelectElement.cpp file. This flaw affects Google Chrome versions prior to 34.0.1847.131 on Windows and OS X systems, and before 34.0.1847.132 on Linux platforms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate renderer state validation during focus event handling, creating a condition where malicious web content can exploit the browser's internal state management mechanisms. This issue represents a classic case of improper state checking that can lead to unpredictable behavior in the browser's rendering pipeline.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages type confusion within the DOM implementation, specifically targeting SELECT elements in HTML documents. When a focus event occurs on a SELECT element, the Blink engine fails to properly validate the renderer's current state before proceeding with subsequent operations. This oversight creates a scenario where an attacker can manipulate the element's internal state through carefully crafted web content, potentially causing the browser to interpret memory locations incorrectly. The type confusion aspect means that the browser may treat data as if it were of one type when it is actually of another, leading to memory corruption and potential execution of arbitrary code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service, though that remains a primary concern. Attackers can leverage this flaw to cause browser crashes and system instability, effectively creating a persistent denial of service condition for affected users. More critically, the unspecified other impacts mentioned in the vulnerability description suggest the potential for more severe consequences including privilege escalation or code execution within the browser sandbox. This aligns with the broader category of memory corruption vulnerabilities that often serve as stepping stones for more sophisticated attacks, particularly in the context of browser-based exploitation where sandbox escape capabilities can provide attackers with elevated privileges.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability demonstrates the complexity inherent in modern browser security architectures and the challenges of maintaining proper state management across different rendering contexts. The issue reflects weaknesses in the defensive programming practices within the Blink engine's DOM implementation and highlights the importance of rigorous state validation in event-driven systems. Organizations should note that this vulnerability has been addressed through Chrome updates, and the remediation involves proper renderer state checking during focus events. The mitigation strategy requires immediate deployment of patched Chrome versions and ongoing monitoring for similar state management issues in other browser components. This vulnerability also underscores the need for comprehensive security testing of DOM implementations and event handling mechanisms, particularly in complex browser environments where multiple rendering contexts interact with each other. The ATT&CK framework would categorize this as a technique involving browser exploitation through memory corruption, while CWE classification would identify it as a weakness in state management and improper validation of renderer states during DOM operations.