CVE-2016-8508 in Yandex
Summary
by MITRE
Yandex Browser for desktop before 17.1.1.227 does not show Protect (similar to Safebrowsing in Chromium) warnings in web-sites with special content-type, which could be used by remote attacker for prevention Protect warning on own malicious web-site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/03/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-8508 affects Yandex Browser desktop versions prior to 17.1.1.227, representing a significant security flaw in the browser's implementation of web content protection mechanisms. This issue specifically pertains to the browser's failure to display protective warnings when users encounter websites with certain content types, creating a potential attack vector for malicious actors. The vulnerability stems from the browser's inability to properly recognize and handle specific web content classifications that should trigger security alerts, effectively bypassing the built-in protection mechanisms designed to warn users about potentially dangerous websites.
The technical flaw manifests in the browser's content-type handling system where certain web content that would normally trigger security warnings fails to do so due to improper detection of special content types. This allows attackers to craft malicious websites that exploit this gap in the browser's protection system, enabling them to prevent the display of protective warnings that would otherwise alert users to potential security threats. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of web content interpretation and security warning mechanisms, where the browser's security subsystem fails to properly classify and respond to specific content patterns that should be flagged as potentially harmful.
Operationally, this vulnerability creates a dangerous scenario where attackers can host malicious content on their own websites while avoiding the protective warnings that would normally be displayed to users. This effectively neutralizes a key security feature of the browser's protection system, allowing malicious actors to deliver harmful content without triggering the user's security awareness mechanisms. The impact extends beyond simple content delivery as it undermines user trust in the browser's security features and potentially enables more sophisticated phishing attacks, malware distribution, or other malicious activities that rely on bypassing user warnings.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure through improper handling of sensitive information, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through web-based attacks. Organizations and users should immediately update to Yandex Browser version 17.1.1.227 or later to remediate this issue, as the vulnerability creates a direct pathway for attackers to bypass security controls that are fundamental to browser protection. Additionally, security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific browser version and consider implementing additional network-based protections or content filtering measures to mitigate the risk while awaiting the security update. The flaw represents a critical gap in browser security architecture that highlights the importance of comprehensive content-type detection and proper security warning implementation in web browsers.