CVE-2010-4483 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 8.0.552.215 does not properly restrict read access to videos derived from CANVAS elements, which allows remote attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy and obtain potentially sensitive video data via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-4483 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome browsers prior to version 8.0.552.215 that fundamentally undermines the browser's security model. This issue stems from improper access controls within the browser's handling of video content generated from canvas elements, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent core web security mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the Same Origin Policy, which serves as a fundamental pillar of web security by preventing scripts from one origin from accessing resources from another origin without explicit permission.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs within Chrome's rendering engine where canvas elements containing video data are processed and subsequently made available for video manipulation. When a web page creates a canvas element and draws video content onto it, the browser should enforce strict access controls to prevent unauthorized access to that video data. However, in affected versions, the browser fails to properly restrict read access to video frames derived from canvas elements, allowing remote attackers to extract potentially sensitive video information. This occurs because the browser's security model does not adequately distinguish between legitimate and malicious access attempts when retrieving video data from canvas contexts.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables sophisticated attacks that can compromise user privacy and potentially lead to more severe security breaches. Attackers can construct malicious websites that leverage this flaw to access video streams from other origins, potentially capturing sensitive visual information from web applications, video conferencing systems, or any other video content that might be displayed in canvas elements. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the browser level, bypassing traditional network-based security controls and operating system protections. This allows attackers to perform cross-origin data exfiltration without requiring elevated privileges or complex exploitation techniques.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a clear violation of the principle of least privilege in web browser security architecture. The attack vector demonstrates how browser vendors must maintain rigorous security boundaries between different origins and content types to prevent unauthorized data access. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in the context of ATT&CK framework technique T1071.004, which covers application layer protocol: web protocols, as it involves exploitation of web browser security mechanisms. The flaw also relates to T1566, which covers credential harvesting through social engineering, as attackers can use this technique to harvest sensitive visual information from users. The vulnerability's impact on web security underscores the critical importance of regular browser updates and maintaining current security patches to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities in client-side applications.