CVE-2017-15389 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
An insufficient watchdog timer in navigation in Google Chrome prior to 62.0.3202.62 allowed a remote attacker to spoof the contents of the Omnibox (URL bar) via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-15389 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's navigation handling mechanism that existed prior to version 62.0.3202.62. This issue stems from an insufficient watchdog timer implementation that governs how the browser processes navigation events and updates the Omnibox interface. The Omnibox, which serves as the primary user interface element for URL input and display, becomes vulnerable to manipulation through malicious web content that exploits this timing deficiency in Chrome's internal processing mechanisms.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a crafted HTML page that leverages the flawed watchdog timer to manipulate the timing of navigation events. When a user visits a malicious website, the attacker can construct HTML content that triggers specific navigation sequences which the browser's watchdog timer fails to properly monitor or control. This allows the malicious page to influence the display contents of the Omnibox, potentially showing misleading URLs or content that appears to be from a trusted source while actually directing users to malicious destinations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for user trust and security awareness. The Omnibox serves as one of the most critical interface elements for web navigation, acting as a primary indicator of website authenticity and security status. When an attacker can spoof this interface element, they effectively undermine the user's ability to verify the legitimacy of websites they are visiting. This manipulation can be used for phishing attacks, credential theft, or redirection to malicious services, as users may be deceived into believing they are on a legitimate website when they are actually interacting with malicious content.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-696, which addresses incorrect behavior ordering and incorrect timing in software systems, and represents a classic example of timing-related security flaws that can lead to user interface manipulation. From the ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving credential access through deceptive user interfaces and social engineering attacks that exploit browser trust mechanisms. The attack vector demonstrates how insufficient input validation and timing controls in browser components can create opportunities for man-in-the-middle attacks and user deception scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to Chrome version 62.0.3202.62 or later, which includes the necessary watchdog timer improvements and navigation handling enhancements. Additionally, users should maintain awareness of suspicious URL displays and employ security extensions or browser configurations that provide additional layers of protection. Organizations should implement regular browser update policies and security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The fix addresses the underlying timing mechanism by implementing more robust watchdog controls that properly monitor and validate navigation events before updating the Omnibox display, thereby preventing malicious manipulation of this critical user interface element.