CVE-2010-5073 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The JavaScript implementation in Google Chrome 4 does not properly restrict the set of values contained in the object returned by the getComputedStyle method, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information about visited web pages by calling this method. NOTE: this may overlap CVE-2010-5070.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/16/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-5073 represents a significant information disclosure flaw within Google Chrome version 4's JavaScript implementation. This weakness specifically affects the getComputedStyle method which is a standard DOM API function used to retrieve the computed style properties of elements. The vulnerability arises from improper validation of the values returned by this method, creating a potential pathway for malicious actors to extract sensitive data about user browsing behavior and visited web pages.
The technical flaw stems from the JavaScript engine's failure to properly sanitize or restrict the data returned by getComputedStyle when invoked on certain DOM elements. This method normally returns a CSSStyleDeclaration object containing computed style values for an element, but in this case, the implementation allowed for the inclusion of sensitive information that should not be exposed to remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically impacts the object returned by getComputedStyle rather than the method itself, suggesting that the issue lies in the data processing or value assignment logic within Chrome's JavaScript engine implementation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to perform passive reconnaissance of user activities by leveraging the getComputedStyle method to gather information about visited web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness to determine which websites a user has visited by analyzing the computed style values returned by the method, potentially revealing sensitive browsing patterns, personal information, or even corporate data. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as it can be combined with other techniques to build detailed profiles of user behavior and preferences, making it particularly dangerous for privacy-sensitive environments.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper restriction of information exposure, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript-based execution. This weakness falls into the broader category of side-channel attacks where attackers exploit information leaks in legitimate system functions to infer sensitive data. The overlap with CVE-2010-5070 suggests that these vulnerabilities may be part of a larger pattern affecting similar JavaScript implementations in web browsers. The affected Chrome version 4 represents a critical security gap that could be exploited in man-in-the-middle attacks or through malicious websites that leverage this information disclosure to build comprehensive user profiles.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate patching of affected Chrome versions, implementing strict content security policies, and monitoring for suspicious JavaScript execution patterns. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls and browser security extensions that can help detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and output sanitization in JavaScript implementations, particularly for methods that interact with DOM elements and return computed style information. Regular security assessments of web browser JavaScript engines and comprehensive testing of DOM API implementations are essential practices to prevent similar information disclosure vulnerabilities from being exploited in the future.