CVE-2013-0922 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome before 26.0.1410.43 does not properly restrict brute-force access attempts against web sites that require HTTP Basic Authentication, which has unspecified impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/26/2017
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0922 represents a significant security weakness in Google Chrome versions prior to 26.0.1410.43 that relates to the improper handling of brute-force access attempts against web sites utilizing HTTP Basic Authentication. This flaw falls under the broader category of authentication bypass vulnerabilities and specifically addresses the mechanisms by which browsers manage and limit repeated authentication attempts. The issue stems from Chrome's failure to implement adequate rate-limiting or account lockout mechanisms when users repeatedly attempt to authenticate against servers requiring HTTP Basic Authentication. This weakness creates a pathway for malicious actors to systematically test numerous credential combinations against protected resources without sufficient protection measures to prevent automated attacks.
The technical implementation flaw in Chrome's HTTP Basic Authentication handling allows attackers to perform rapid, repeated authentication requests against web servers without experiencing the typical delays or account lockout mechanisms that would normally be present in properly secured environments. This behavior directly violates established security principles for authentication systems and creates an environment where automated credential stuffing or brute-force attacks can proceed with minimal resistance from the browser client. The vulnerability specifically affects how Chrome manages the authentication dialog and retry mechanisms when encountering failed authentication attempts, enabling attackers to exploit the lack of proper access control measures within the browser itself rather than relying on server-side protections alone.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential guessing attacks to potentially enable more sophisticated exploitation techniques that leverage the browser's trust model. Attackers can utilize this weakness to systematically target web applications that rely on HTTP Basic Authentication, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive resources, data breaches, or compromise of user accounts. The unspecified nature of the impact and attack vectors suggests that this vulnerability could be exploited in multiple ways depending on the specific web application architecture and the attacker's objectives. This weakness particularly affects enterprise environments where HTTP Basic Authentication might still be used for legacy applications or internal systems, creating additional risk exposure for organizations that have not migrated to more secure authentication mechanisms.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating Chrome to version 26.0.1410.43 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the brute-force access restriction issues. Additionally, system administrators should consider implementing additional layers of protection such as server-side rate limiting, IP address blocking, and enhanced monitoring for suspicious authentication patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-307 weakness category related to inadequate protection against brute force attacks and could be leveraged by threat actors following ATT&CK technique T1110 for credential access. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level protections and monitoring for unusual authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations relying on HTTP Basic Authentication should evaluate migrating to more secure alternatives such as HTTP Digest Authentication or implementing proper session management and multi-factor authentication mechanisms to reduce overall risk exposure.