CVE-2018-10178 in FromDocToPDF Extension
Summary
by MITRE
The FromDocToPDF extension before 13.611.13.2303 for Chrome allows remote attackers to discover visited web sites via vectors involving a mostVisitedSites command.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/25/2020
The CVE-2018-10178 vulnerability resides within the FromDocToPDF Chrome extension, specifically affecting versions prior to 13.611.13.2303. This security flaw represents a significant privacy concern that enables remote attackers to infer user browsing behavior through the exploitation of the mostVisitedSites command. The vulnerability demonstrates how browser extensions can inadvertently expose sensitive user data through seemingly innocuous API interactions, creating a covert channel for tracking visited websites without explicit user consent.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of the mostVisitedSites API within the extension's codebase. When the FromDocToPDF extension processes documents and interacts with Chrome's browser APIs, it inadvertently exposes information about a user's browsing history through the mostVisitedSites command. This command typically provides access to frequently visited sites, but the extension's flawed implementation allows attackers to correlate this information with visited web pages, effectively creating a fingerprint of user navigation patterns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns into potential security risks for users. Attackers can leverage this information to build detailed profiles of user interests, behaviors, and online activities without the user's knowledge or consent. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser extension security and user privacy protection, where the extension's legitimate functionality becomes a vector for surveillance. This type of information leakage can be particularly dangerous when combined with other tracking mechanisms, as it provides attackers with additional context for profiling and targeted attacks.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1566, which involves the use of social engineering to gain access to systems. The attack vector specifically exploits the trust relationship between Chrome extensions and browser APIs, where the extension's elevated privileges are misused to extract browsing history information. This represents a classic case of privilege escalation through API misuse, where the extension's intended functionality becomes a tool for unauthorized data collection.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate extension updates to version 13.611.13.2303 or later, which contain the necessary code modifications to prevent the exposure of mostVisitedSites information. Users should also implement browser security best practices including regular extension updates, reviewing extension permissions, and using privacy-focused browser configurations. Organizations should conduct regular security assessments of browser extensions in use and implement monitoring systems to detect anomalous API usage patterns that could indicate similar vulnerabilities. The fix typically involves proper input validation and access control measures that prevent unauthorized access to browsing history information through the extension's API interfaces.
This vulnerability highlights the broader security challenges associated with browser extension ecosystems, where third-party software can introduce significant privacy and security risks. The incident underscores the importance of rigorous security testing for browser extensions and the need for comprehensive privacy impact assessments before deployment. Users must remain vigilant about the permissions they grant to browser extensions and understand the potential security implications of their choices. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that even seemingly benign functionality can become a security risk when not properly implemented with security considerations in mind.