CVE-2010-1503 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Google Chrome before 4.1.249.1059 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via vectors related to a chrome://net-internals URI.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-1503 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw affecting Google Chrome versions prior to 4.1.249.1059. This issue specifically targets the browser's handling of chrome://net-internals URIs which are internal chrome:// URLs used for network debugging and administration purposes. The vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation and sanitization when processing these privileged URIs, creating an avenue for remote attackers to execute malicious code within the context of the browser's privileged environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of chrome://net-internals URI parameters, which allows attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML content into the browser interface. This particular attack vector leverages the browser's trust relationship with its own internal URIs, bypassing standard security mechanisms that typically protect against XSS attacks. The flaw exists because Chrome fails to properly sanitize user-supplied input when constructing responses to these internal URI requests, enabling attackers to inject malicious payloads that execute with the privileges of the browser itself.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to users of affected Chrome versions as it allows remote code execution within the browser context without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage. The attack can potentially lead to full browser compromise, session hijacking, credential theft, and data exfiltration. Since chrome://net-internals URLs are accessible through standard browser navigation, attackers can craft malicious web pages that automatically trigger the exploit, making it particularly dangerous for users who browse untrusted websites. The vulnerability affects the browser's security model by undermining the isolation between user content and privileged browser components.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-79 Cross-site Scripting and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1211 Command and Scripting Interpreter, specifically targeting browser-based execution environments. The flaw demonstrates a classic privilege escalation issue where a less privileged user input can be used to execute code with elevated privileges within the browser's security boundaries. Organizations should immediately update to Chrome version 4.1.249.1059 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as the fix involves proper input sanitization and validation of URI parameters. Additionally, administrators should implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering to prevent exploitation attempts, while users should avoid visiting untrusted websites and maintain updated browser versions to ensure protection against known vulnerabilities.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the importance of proper input validation in privileged browser interfaces and demonstrate how internal URI handling can create unexpected attack surfaces. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments focusing on browser-specific attack vectors and implement comprehensive monitoring for suspicious URI access patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical need for maintaining up-to-date browser software and implementing layered security controls to protect against sophisticated browser-based attacks that can bypass traditional network security measures.