CVE-2015-1278 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
content/browser/web_contents/web_contents_impl.cc in Google Chrome before 44.0.2403.89 does not ensure that a PDF document's modal dialog is closed upon navigation to an interstitial page, which allows remote attackers to spoof URLs via a crafted document, as demonstrated by the alert_dialog.pdf document.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/03/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2015-1278 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's handling of PDF documents and modal dialog management during navigation events. This issue resides within the web_contents_impl.cc file of Chrome's browser component architecture, specifically affecting versions prior to 44.0.2403.89. The flaw demonstrates a failure in proper state management when transitioning between different types of web content, particularly when navigating from PDF documents to interstitial pages that display security warnings or other critical information to users.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from Chrome's inadequate handling of modal dialog lifecycle management during navigation operations. When a PDF document is displayed within Chrome and an interstitial page is triggered due to navigation events such as security warnings or certificate errors, the browser fails to properly close the PDF document's modal dialog. This creates a persistent overlay that can be exploited by malicious actors to manipulate user perception of the current page context. The vulnerability specifically leverages the alert_dialog.pdf demonstration document to show how attackers can maintain the visibility of a spoofed dialog while the browser navigates to a different page, creating a misleading user experience.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables sophisticated phishing attacks and social engineering campaigns where attackers can craft malicious PDF documents that maintain their modal dialog state even when users attempt to navigate away from the malicious content. The attack vector allows remote adversaries to spoof URLs by maintaining visual elements that appear to originate from the target domain while actually displaying content from a different source. This creates confusion for users who may believe they are viewing legitimate security warnings while actually interacting with malicious content. The impact extends beyond simple deception to potentially enable credential theft, malware delivery, or other malicious activities that rely on user trust in browser security warnings.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-691, which addresses insufficient control of a resource through a potentially dangerous operation, specifically in the context of dialog management and state preservation during navigation. The flaw also relates to ATT&CK technique T1059, which covers user execution through malicious content delivery, as the vulnerability enables attackers to deliver malicious content that persists beyond normal navigation boundaries. Additionally, the issue connects to ATT&CK technique T1190, concerning exploitation of vulnerabilities in web browsers, as it represents an unpatched browser security weakness that can be exploited for malicious purposes.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability requires immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to 44.0.2403.89 or later, which implements proper modal dialog cleanup during navigation events. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as PDF sandboxing, content filtering solutions, and user education about suspicious browser behavior. Network administrators should monitor for potential exploitation attempts through security information and event management systems, particularly looking for unusual PDF document access patterns or attempts to navigate to interstitial pages. Browser security teams should also implement enhanced testing procedures for navigation state management and dialog lifecycle handling to prevent similar issues in future releases. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of proper state management in web browsers and the potential for seemingly minor implementation flaws to create significant security risks.