CVE-2017-5093 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Inappropriate implementation in modal dialog handling in Blink in Google Chrome prior to 60.0.3112.78 for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android allowed a remote attacker to prevent a full screen warning from being displayed via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5093 represents a critical flaw in the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome and Chromium-based browsers across multiple platforms including Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android. This issue stems from an inadequate implementation of modal dialog handling mechanisms within the browser's core rendering component. The flaw specifically affects versions of Chrome prior to 60.0.3112.78, creating a persistent security risk for users who remain on older browser versions. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-665, which addresses improper initialization of resources, particularly in the context of user interface elements and dialog handling systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of modal dialog behavior in web pages. A remote attacker can craft a malicious HTML page that specifically targets the browser's fullscreen warning display mechanism, effectively preventing legitimate security warnings from appearing to users. This manipulation exploits the underlying architecture of how Blink handles user interface dialog boxes and their interaction with fullscreen modes, creating a bypass of the browser's intended security protocols. The flaw demonstrates a failure in proper input validation and dialog management within the browser's rendering engine, allowing crafted web content to interfere with fundamental security features.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it undermines the browser's ability to protect users from potentially harmful web interactions. When fullscreen warnings fail to display, users remain unaware of critical security alerts that would normally prevent dangerous actions such as malicious downloads, unauthorized access attempts, or other harmful activities. This creates a dangerous situation where users might unknowingly proceed with actions that could compromise their system security. The vulnerability particularly affects user trust in browser security mechanisms and can enable more sophisticated attacks by allowing additional malicious activities to occur without user awareness.
Security mitigations for CVE-2017-5093 primarily involve upgrading to Chrome version 60.0.3112.78 or later, which includes patches addressing the modal dialog handling implementation. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies to ensure all systems are running patched versions. Additionally, security teams should monitor for any indicators of exploitation attempts and consider implementing web content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious HTML content targeting such vulnerabilities. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, as attackers may attempt to exploit this vulnerability to execute malicious code through crafted web pages. Network administrators should also consider implementing security controls that restrict access to potentially malicious websites and maintain regular security assessments to identify systems running vulnerable browser versions.