CVE-2016-5165 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Developer Tools (aka DevTools) subsystem in Google Chrome before 53.0.2785.89 on Windows and OS X and before 53.0.2785.92 on Linux allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the settings parameter in a chrome-devtools-frontend.appspot.com URL's query string.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/14/2022
The CVE-2016-5165 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within Google Chrome's Developer Tools subsystem that existed prior to specific patch versions across multiple operating systems. This vulnerability specifically affects the chrome-devtools-frontend.appspot.com URL endpoint where the settings parameter in the query string becomes a vector for malicious code injection. The flaw resides in how Chrome's DevTools component processes and renders user-supplied parameters without adequate input sanitization or output encoding mechanisms. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious URLs that contain script payloads within the settings parameter, which would then be executed in the context of a user's browser session when the URL was accessed.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of the settings parameter within the DevTools frontend framework. When Chrome processes these URLs, it fails to properly sanitize or encode the user-provided input before rendering it in the browser context, creating an XSS attack surface that allows arbitrary script execution. This flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the browser's developer tools functionality, which is typically accessed by legitimate users during web development and debugging processes. The vulnerability demonstrates poor input validation practices that align with CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The attack requires minimal user interaction since simply visiting a malicious URL containing the crafted settings parameter would trigger the execution of malicious code.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond typical XSS scenarios due to the privileged nature of the Developer Tools environment. Since DevTools is designed for debugging and development purposes, it often operates with elevated privileges and access to sensitive browser functions that could be exploited by attackers. The vulnerability allows remote code execution in the context of the user's browsing session, potentially enabling attackers to access cookies, session tokens, or other sensitive data that the browser maintains. This represents a significant risk for developers who frequently use Chrome's DevTools, as visiting malicious websites could compromise their development environments and potentially lead to more severe security breaches. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it leverages legitimate Chrome functionality that users trust and regularly interact with, making it difficult to detect and prevent through standard security measures.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-5165 primarily focus on updating Chrome to the patched versions mentioned in the vulnerability description, specifically versions 53.0.2785.89 for Windows and OS X, and 53.0.2785.92 for Linux. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly to prevent exploitation. Additionally, security-conscious administrators should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious query parameters in URLs targeting the affected endpoint. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of input validation and output encoding practices that align with ATT&CK framework techniques for command and control operations. Network monitoring should include detection of suspicious URL patterns targeting chrome-devtools-frontend.appspot.com with unusual settings parameters. Regular security assessments of browser extensions and developer tools should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities that could provide attackers with additional attack vectors. The incident underscores the necessity of maintaining up-to-date browser security practices and the critical role that timely patching plays in preventing exploitation of known vulnerabilities.