CVE-2017-5060 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient Policy Enforcement in Omnibox in Google Chrome prior to 58.0.3029.81 for Mac, Windows, and Linux, and 58.0.3029.83 for Android, allowed a remote attacker to perform domain spoofing via IDN homographs in a crafted domain name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5060 represents a critical weakness in Google Chrome's handling of internationalized domain names within the omnibox interface. This flaw existed in Chrome versions prior to 58.0.3029.81 for macOS, Windows, and Linux platforms, and 58.0.3029.83 for Android devices, allowing malicious actors to exploit the browser's insufficient policy enforcement mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically targets the way Chrome processes and displays internationalized domain names, which can be manipulated through IDN homographs to deceive users into believing they are visiting legitimate websites while actually being directed to malicious counterparts.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from Chrome's inadequate validation of internationalized domain names during the display process in the omnibox. When users enter or navigate to domains containing international characters, the browser's rendering mechanism fails to properly distinguish between legitimate internationalized domain names and maliciously crafted homograph attacks. This occurs because the browser's policy enforcement does not adequately implement proper IDN handling rules that would prevent character substitution attacks. The flaw allows attackers to register or manipulate domain names using Unicode characters that visually resemble Latin characters, creating deceptive URLs that appear authentic to unsuspecting users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attacks, as it fundamentally undermines user trust in the browser's security mechanisms and can be exploited for sophisticated social engineering campaigns. Attackers can craft domain names that appear identical to legitimate websites but contain hidden Unicode characters that render differently in the browser's address bar, enabling them to perform domain spoofing attacks that bypass traditional security measures. This vulnerability particularly affects users who may not be aware of the visual differences between similar-looking Unicode characters, making it a significant threat to user security and privacy.
The implications of CVE-2017-5060 align with CWE-1004 weakness category related to insufficient policy enforcement and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through spearphishing attachments. This vulnerability represents a classic case of user interface deception where the attack vector targets the user's trust in visual cues rather than technical security measures. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly innocuous interface design decisions can create significant security risks when internationalization standards are not properly enforced. Organizations relying on Chrome for web browsing must understand that this vulnerability could enable attackers to bypass security controls and access sensitive user information through deceptive domain presentations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate browser updates to patched versions that implement proper IDN handling and policy enforcement mechanisms. Users should ensure their Chrome installations are updated to versions 58.0.3029.81 or later for desktop platforms and 58.0.3029.83 for Android devices. Security administrators should also consider implementing additional network-level protections such as DNS filtering and web content filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious domain name patterns. The remediation process must include user education about the risks of IDN homograph attacks and the importance of verifying website authenticity through certificate inspection rather than relying solely on visual appearance of URLs. Organizations should also review their security policies to ensure proper monitoring and alerting for potential domain spoofing attempts that could exploit similar vulnerabilities in other browser platforms or web applications.