CVE-2016-1625 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
The Chrome Instant feature in Google Chrome before 48.0.2564.109 does not ensure that a New Tab Page (NTP) navigation target is on the most-visited or suggestions list, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended restrictions via unspecified vectors, related to instant_service.cc and search_tab_helper.cc.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/08/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1625 resides within Google Chrome's Instant feature implementation, specifically affecting versions prior to 48.0.2564.109. This flaw represents a critical security weakness in the browser's navigation handling mechanism, particularly concerning the New Tab Page functionality that users encounter when opening a new browser tab. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of navigation targets within the Chrome Instant service, which is responsible for pre-loading web pages to improve perceived performance and user experience.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the instant_service.cc and search_tab_helper.cc components within Chrome's codebase. These modules are tasked with managing the instant search functionality and tab navigation behaviors respectively. The flaw occurs when Chrome processes navigation requests from the New Tab Page, failing to properly verify whether the intended navigation target is actually present within the browser's most-visited sites or suggested pages list. This validation gap creates an opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate the navigation process and redirect users to unintended destinations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple navigation manipulation, as it enables attackers to bypass intended security restrictions that protect users from potentially harmful websites. Attackers can exploit this weakness through unspecified vectors that leverage the browser's trust in its own navigation system. When an attacker crafts a malicious navigation request, the browser's Instant feature fails to validate the target against its established restrictions, allowing the navigation to proceed to a malicious site that would normally be blocked or restricted by the browser's security policies. This represents a significant bypass of Chrome's built-in security controls.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses inadequate access control mechanisms, and demonstrates how seemingly benign browser optimization features can introduce security risks. The attack vector operates through the manipulation of Chrome's internal navigation handling, potentially enabling phishing attacks, malware delivery, or other malicious activities that exploit the browser's trust in its own navigation system. The vulnerability represents a classic example of how feature enhancements can inadvertently weaken security boundaries when proper validation mechanisms are not implemented.
Organizations and individual users should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to Chrome version 48.0.2564.109 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious navigation patterns and ensure that browser updates are applied promptly across all systems. The fix implemented by Google likely involved strengthening the validation logic in the instant_service.cc and search_tab_helper.cc modules to ensure that all navigation targets are properly authenticated against the browser's trusted sites list before allowing the navigation to proceed. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining robust input validation and access control mechanisms, even within seemingly benign browser features that are designed to enhance user experience.