CVE-2018-17460 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient data validation in filesystem URIs in Google Chrome prior to 68.0.3440.75 allowed a remote attacker to spoof the contents of the Omnibox (URL bar) via a crafted domain name.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-17460 represents a critical flaw in Google Chrome's handling of filesystem URIs that existed prior to version 68.0.3440.75. This issue stems from inadequate validation of URI schemes and domain names within the browser's address bar rendering mechanism, creating a potential vector for sophisticated phishing attacks and user deception. The flaw specifically affects how Chrome processes and displays filesystem-related URI schemes when they contain crafted domain names, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the visual representation of web addresses in the Omnibox interface.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in Chrome's insufficient validation of filesystem URI formats when they are processed for display in the address bar. When a maliciously crafted URI containing a filesystem scheme is encountered, the browser fails to properly sanitize or validate the domain component before rendering it in the Omnibox. This allows attackers to construct domain names that appear legitimate while actually pointing to local filesystem resources or maliciously crafted content. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of URI parsing, scheme validation, and user interface rendering components within the browser's architecture, creating a mismatch between the actual resource location and the visual representation displayed to users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple visual deception to potentially enable sophisticated social engineering attacks. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that appear to originate from trusted domains while actually pointing to local files or controlled web servers, making it extremely difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and malicious content. This type of attack directly violates user trust in the browser's address bar, which is designed to provide clear visual indicators of website authenticity. The vulnerability enables man-in-the-middle scenarios where attackers can manipulate the display of URLs to hide malicious intent, potentially leading to credential theft, malware distribution, or other malicious activities that rely on user trust in the displayed address.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a specific instance of how insufficient validation can lead to user interface manipulation. The attack vector follows patterns commonly associated with phishing and social engineering techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1566 category for credential access through social engineering. The flaw demonstrates how browser security mechanisms can be bypassed through careful manipulation of URI components, highlighting the importance of comprehensive input validation across all layers of web browser architecture. Organizations should prioritize updating affected Chrome installations to version 68.0.3440.75 or later, as this patch addresses the underlying URI validation issues and restores proper protection against such spoofing attacks. Additionally, security teams should implement monitoring for suspicious URI patterns and educate users about the importance of verifying website addresses, particularly when navigating to unfamiliar domains or when encountering unexpected behavior in the browser's address bar.