CVE-2017-5110 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Inappropriate implementation of the web payments API on blob: and data: schemes in Web Payments in Google Chrome prior to 60.0.3112.78 for Mac, Windows, Linux, and Android allowed a remote attacker to spoof the contents of the Omnibox via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/27/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2017-5110 represents a critical implementation flaw in Google Chrome's web payments API that affected versions prior to 60.0.3112.78 across multiple platforms. This issue stems from an inadequate security model that fails to properly validate the origin and scheme of web payment requests, specifically when dealing with blob: and data: URI schemes. The web payments API is designed to facilitate secure payment transactions within web browsers, but this vulnerability creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the trust model that should exist between the browser and payment processing systems. The flaw resides in how Chrome handles these specific URI schemes which are typically used for temporary data storage and inline data representation, yet the implementation incorrectly extends trust to these schemes when processing payment requests.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a crafted HTML page that leverages the blob: and data: schemes to construct malicious payment requests. These schemes are normally restricted in their capabilities to prevent security issues, but Chrome's implementation fails to properly enforce these restrictions when processing web payments. Attackers can construct specially crafted web pages that appear to originate from legitimate payment providers, thereby deceiving the browser's Omnibox - the address bar that displays the current page's URL and security status. The Omnibox is a critical security indicator that users rely upon to verify the legitimacy of websites, and when this indicator can be spoofed, it creates a significant risk for users who may unknowingly proceed to fraudulent payment pages.
This vulnerability has substantial operational impact as it directly undermines user trust in the browser's security mechanisms and the web payments infrastructure. The ability to spoof the Omnibox content means that attackers can make users believe they are visiting legitimate payment sites when they are actually interacting with malicious pages designed to capture payment information. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the user's expectation of security in the browser's address bar, which is one of the primary interfaces for verifying website authenticity. Users who rely on the Omnibox as a security indicator may unknowingly complete payment transactions with malicious actors, leading to financial loss and potential identity theft. This vulnerability also represents a failure in the principle of least privilege and proper input validation that should be enforced in web browser implementations.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-20, which describes "Improper Input Validation" as a fundamental weakness in software security. This weakness manifests in Chrome's failure to properly validate the schemes used in web payment requests, allowing unauthorized schemes to bypass normal security restrictions. The attack pattern follows techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1059, specifically the use of HTML/JavaScript to execute malicious code, and T1546, which involves the modification of system processes to achieve persistence or deception. The vulnerability also relates to T1071, where adversaries use application layer protocols to establish covert channels or manipulate user interfaces. Organizations should ensure their systems are updated to Chrome version 60.0.3112.78 or later to mitigate this vulnerability. Users should be educated about the importance of verifying website authenticity through multiple indicators beyond just the Omnibox, including checking for proper SSL certificates and being vigilant about unexpected payment prompts. Security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts and ensure that browser security updates are applied promptly across all systems. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of payment workflows to ensure that the fix properly addresses the scheme validation issue without breaking legitimate web payment functionality.