CVE-2010-3246 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 6.0.472.53 does not properly handle the _blank value for the target attribute of unspecified elements, which allows remote attackers to bypass the pop-up blocker via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-3246 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome versions prior to 6.0.472.53 that specifically relates to the browser's handling of the target attribute within HTML elements. This issue stems from the browser's insufficient validation mechanisms when processing the _blank value for the target attribute, which is commonly used in anchor tags and other HTML elements to specify that content should open in a new tab or window. The flaw exists in the pop-up blocker implementation, which is designed to prevent malicious websites from creating unwanted pop-up windows that could deceive users or host harmful content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability allows remote attackers to craft malicious web pages that exploit the improper handling of the _blank target value, effectively bypassing Chrome's built-in pop-up blocking mechanisms. This occurs because the browser fails to properly validate or sanitize the target attribute when it contains the _blank value, enabling attackers to circumvent security controls that are meant to protect users from intrusive or malicious pop-up windows. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and leverages the browser's trust model, where legitimate web content is expected to behave according to standard HTML specifications while malicious content attempts to abuse these specifications for unauthorized behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it undermines the fundamental security protections that modern browsers provide to users. When attackers can bypass pop-up blockers, they gain the ability to display malicious content in new windows or tabs without user consent, potentially leading to phishing attacks, drive-by downloads, or other malicious activities that exploit user trust. This vulnerability specifically affects user experience and security posture by allowing attackers to create deceptive pop-up windows that appear legitimate while actually delivering harmful payloads. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it an automated threat that can affect large numbers of users simultaneously.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-170, which addresses improper handling of input that should be restricted to a specific set of values, and relates to the broader category of web application security issues. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability aligns with T1059.001 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute malicious code through browser-based vectors. The remediation for this vulnerability required Google to update Chrome's pop-up blocking logic to properly validate the target attribute values and ensure that all HTML elements are processed according to established security protocols. Users were advised to upgrade to Chrome version 6.0.472.53 or later to receive the patched implementation that correctly handles the _blank target attribute value and maintains proper pop-up blocking behavior.