CVE-2017-5089 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient Policy Enforcement in Omnibox in Google Chrome prior to 59.0.3071.104 for Mac allowed a remote attacker to perform domain spoofing via a crafted domain name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5089 represents a critical insufficient policy enforcement issue within Google Chrome's omnibox functionality on macOS systems. This flaw existed in Chrome versions prior to 59.0.3071.104 and enabled remote attackers to execute domain spoofing attacks through the manipulation of crafted domain names. The omnibox, which serves as the primary interface for URL input and display in the browser, became a vector for malicious actors to deceive users into believing they were visiting legitimate websites when in fact they were interacting with fraudulent domains. The vulnerability specifically exploited the browser's insufficient validation mechanisms for domain name presentation and display, creating an environment where attackers could craft domain names that would appear visually similar to trusted websites, thereby undermining user trust and security assumptions.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the inadequate implementation of policy enforcement within Chrome's address bar rendering system. When users entered or encountered domain names in the omnibox, the browser failed to properly validate and sanitize the display of certain domain name formats, particularly those containing internationalized domain names or characters that could be visually confused with legitimate domains. This weakness allowed attackers to register or manipulate domain names that would render in a manner visually indistinguishable from authentic websites, leveraging Unicode characters or domain name homoglyphs to create deceptive presentations. The flaw was categorized under CWE-602, which addresses client-side enforcement of server-side security policies, specifically highlighting the failure to properly enforce domain validation policies in client applications. This type of vulnerability falls within the ATT&CK framework under T1056.001, which covers input injection techniques, and T1566, which encompasses spearphishing with attachments, as it enables attackers to craft convincing phishing attempts through deceptive URL presentation.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5089 was significant and far-reaching, as it directly compromised user security by enabling sophisticated phishing attacks that could bypass traditional browser security mechanisms. Users were vulnerable to social engineering attacks where malicious actors could craft domain names that would appear legitimate, potentially leading to credential theft, financial fraud, or data exfiltration. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it exploited the trust users place in their browser's address bar, which they typically rely on to verify website authenticity. Attackers could leverage this flaw to create convincing fake login pages, banking portals, or corporate websites that would appear genuine to unsuspecting users. The impact extended beyond individual user security to potential organizational risks, as successful exploitation could lead to compromised corporate networks, stolen intellectual property, or unauthorized access to sensitive systems. Organizations relying on Chrome as their primary browser were exposed to increased risk of targeted attacks, particularly in environments where users had elevated privileges or access to sensitive data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5089 focused primarily on immediate browser updates to versions containing the necessary security patches. Google released Chrome version 59.0.3071.104 which addressed the insufficient policy enforcement by implementing stricter validation mechanisms for domain name presentation in the omnibox. Organizations should have implemented comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected systems received updates promptly. Additional mitigations included user education programs to raise awareness about phishing risks and the importance of verifying website authenticity through multiple means beyond the address bar. Security teams were advised to monitor for suspicious domain registrations and implement network-level controls to detect and block known malicious domains. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of proper input validation and domain name handling in browser security implementations, leading to enhanced security practices in subsequent browser development cycles. Organizations should have also considered implementing additional security layers such as web application firewalls or browser security extensions to provide defense-in-depth against similar vulnerabilities. The incident underscored the critical need for continuous security testing and validation of user interface elements that handle domain name information, as these components serve as primary trust indicators for users and security systems.