CVE-2016-1673 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Blink, as used in Google Chrome before 51.0.2704.63, allows remote attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/22/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1673 represents a critical security flaw within the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers. This issue specifically affects versions prior to 51.0.2704.63 and enables remote attackers to circumvent the fundamental Same Origin Policy that serves as a cornerstone of web browser security. The Same Origin Policy is a critical security mechanism that prevents scripts from one origin from accessing resources from another origin, thereby protecting users from cross-site scripting attacks and data theft. When this policy is bypassed, it fundamentally undermines the security model that web browsers rely upon to maintain isolation between different websites and applications.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in unspecified vectors within the Blink engine's implementation that allow malicious actors to exploit mechanisms intended to enforce security boundaries. These unspecified vectors could potentially involve memory corruption issues, improper validation of cross-origin requests, or flaws in how the browser handles resource access controls. The vulnerability's classification under CWE (Common Weakness Enumeration) would likely fall within categories related to security policy enforcement failures or access control bypasses, specifically CWE-284 for improper access control or CWE-123 for weaknesses in privilege enforcement. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it affects the core rendering engine that processes web content, meaning any website could potentially exploit this weakness to access sensitive data or perform unauthorized operations across different origins.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it allows attackers to perform cross-origin data theft, manipulate web applications, and potentially execute unauthorized actions on behalf of users. Remote attackers could leverage this flaw to access cookies, local storage, and other sensitive data that should normally be isolated between different websites. This capability significantly increases the risk of credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration attacks. The vulnerability creates a pathway for attackers to bypass the isolation mechanisms that protect users from malicious websites, potentially enabling them to access personal information, financial data, or corporate secrets stored in web applications. Additionally, the attack could be combined with other techniques to create more sophisticated exploits that could compromise entire user sessions or access protected resources across different domains.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-1673 primarily involve upgrading to Google Chrome version 51.0.2704.63 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the Same Origin Policy bypass. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Security administrators should also consider implementing additional protective measures such as content security policies, strict header configurations, and monitoring for suspicious cross-origin activity. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and demonstrates how even core rendering engine flaws can have cascading security implications. Network security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement web application firewalls or similar controls that can detect and block malicious cross-origin requests. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and defense evasion, as attackers can bypass security controls that normally prevent cross-origin access to sensitive resources. Regular security assessments and penetration testing should include verification that Same Origin Policy enforcement mechanisms remain intact and functional across all browser versions in use within the organization.