CVE-2018-17467 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficiently quick clearing of stale rendered content in Navigation in Google Chrome prior to 70.0.3538.67 allowed a remote attacker to spoof the contents of the Omnibox (URL bar) via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2023
This vulnerability represents a critical rendering inconsistency in google chrome's navigation system that exploited timing gaps in content clearing mechanisms. The flaw specifically affected versions prior to 70.0.3538.67 and enabled remote attackers to manipulate the omnibox display through maliciously crafted html pages. The issue stems from insufficiently rapid clearing of stale rendered content during navigation transitions, creating a window where outdated visual elements could persist and deceive users. This vulnerability falls under the category of cross-site scripting attacks and specifically targets the user interface components that display website information. The technical implementation involves the browser's handling of navigation events where content from previous pages fails to be properly cleared before new content renders, potentially allowing malicious actors to inject misleading information into the address bar. This flaw directly impacts user trust and security awareness by creating scenarios where users might believe they are visiting a legitimate site when actually viewing content from a different origin. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses weak input validation and improper handling of user-supplied data, while also relating to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for executing malicious code through web-based interfaces. The operational impact extends beyond simple deception as it creates conditions where attackers could potentially harvest user credentials or sensitive information through social engineering tactics that exploit the trust users place in the omnibox display. The flaw demonstrates how browser rendering inconsistencies can create security risks that bypass traditional network-level protections and directly target user perception and trust. Attackers could craft pages that appear legitimate in the address bar while actually serving malicious content, effectively bypassing user security expectations and creating opportunities for phishing attacks. The vulnerability required no special privileges to exploit, making it particularly dangerous as it could be triggered through simple web navigation. Chrome's implementation of navigation timing and content clearing was insufficient to prevent the race condition that allowed stale content to persist in the omnibox display. This technical gap in the browser's rendering pipeline created an environment where attackers could manipulate the visual feedback users receive during web navigation. The flaw represents a failure in the browser's security model to properly isolate and clear content between navigation events, potentially exposing users to man-in-the-middle attacks or credential harvesting attempts. The vulnerability's impact was significant because the omnibox serves as a primary security indicator for users, and any manipulation of this interface directly undermines user confidence in the browser's security mechanisms. Remediation required chrome to implement more robust timing controls for content clearing during navigation events and to ensure that stale rendered content is properly invalidated before new content is displayed. The fix involved strengthening the browser's navigation handling logic to eliminate the timing window where stale content could persist and influence the user interface. This vulnerability highlighted the importance of considering race conditions in browser security implementations and demonstrated how seemingly minor rendering issues could have significant security implications. The attack vector was particularly concerning as it exploited user trust in the browser's address bar, making it difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and malicious content. The security implications extended to all users of affected chrome versions and required immediate patching to prevent exploitation. This vulnerability underscores the critical need for comprehensive testing of browser navigation and rendering systems to identify potential timing-based security flaws that could be exploited by remote attackers. The flaw's resolution emphasized the importance of proper content isolation and clearing mechanisms in web browsers to prevent visual deception attacks that target user perception rather than network security. The technical analysis reveals that this issue was a direct result of inadequate synchronization between navigation events and content clearing operations, creating a persistent security gap that could be exploited through simple web page construction. The vulnerability serves as a reminder that browser security must account for all user interface elements, as even the most trusted indicators like the omnibox can be manipulated to deceive users. This flaw contributed to the broader understanding of how browser rendering inconsistencies can create security vulnerabilities that require careful attention to timing and content management during navigation transitions. The fix implemented by google demonstrated the importance of robust content clearing mechanisms in preventing visual spoofing attacks and maintaining user trust in browser security indicators. The vulnerability's classification aligns with industry standards for web browser security flaws and emphasizes the need for continuous security assessment of browser components beyond traditional network-based protections.