CVE-2013-2835 in Chrome OS
Summary
by MITRE
Google Chrome OS before 26.0.1410.57 does not properly enforce origin restrictions for the O3D and Google Talk plug-ins, which allows remote attackers to bypass the domain-whitelist protection mechanism via a crafted web site, a different vulnerability than CVE-2013-2834.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/23/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-2835 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome OS versions prior to 26.0.1410.57 that specifically targets the enforcement of origin restrictions within the O3D and Google Talk plug-ins. This issue falls under the category of improper access control mechanisms and can be classified as a weakness in the browser's security model that allows malicious actors to circumvent established protection boundaries. The vulnerability stems from the failure of Chrome OS to properly validate and enforce domain whitelisting restrictions that should normally prevent unauthorized cross-origin access to sensitive plug-in functionality.
The technical flaw manifests in the way Chrome OS handles security boundaries for these specific plug-ins, where the origin restriction enforcement mechanism becomes ineffective when confronted with crafted web content. This allows remote attackers to exploit a bypass condition that enables them to execute code or access resources that should normally be restricted to specific domains or origins. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at a level that affects the core security architecture of the operating system's browser component, potentially allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to system resources or sensitive information through malicious web pages.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it creates a persistent security risk that could enable attackers to perform various malicious activities including data exfiltration, system compromise, or unauthorized access to user sessions. The flaw specifically affects the O3D plug-in which is used for 3D graphics rendering and the Google Talk plug-in which handles communication functionality, both of which could provide attackers with significant capabilities if exploited successfully. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining strict security boundaries within browser environments and highlights the potential consequences of inadequate validation of cross-origin requests.
The security implications of CVE-2013-2835 align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and can be mapped to ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and exploitation of browser vulnerabilities. Organizations using affected Chrome OS versions face significant risk as this vulnerability could be exploited in the wild through drive-by downloads or malicious websites that leverage the bypass mechanism. The issue represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and demonstrates how a single flaw in security enforcement can potentially compromise the entire operating system's security model.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of Chrome OS to version 26.0.1410.57 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the origin restriction enforcement mechanism. Network administrators should implement additional monitoring for suspicious web traffic and consider deploying web application firewalls or content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious content targeting this vulnerability. Security teams should also conduct comprehensive assessments of their Chrome OS deployments to ensure all devices have been updated and monitor for any signs of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing layered defense strategies to protect against browser-based attacks that target core operating system components.