CVE-2018-17475 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Incorrect handling of history on iOS 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 in Google Chrome's iOS implementation represents a significant security flaw in the browser's navigation handling mechanism that could enable sophisticated phishing attacks. The issue stems from improper management of browser history when processing crafted HTML content, specifically affecting versions prior to 70.0.3538.67. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to manipulate the Omnibox display, which is the URL bar that users rely on for verifying website authenticity and security. This flaw creates a deceptive user experience where malicious actors can present false URL information to victims, potentially leading to credential theft, financial fraud, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser security architecture and user interface deception, exploiting the trust users place in the visual indicators provided by the browser's address bar.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of browser history APIs and navigation events within the iOS version of Chrome. When a malicious webpage loads, it can craft specific HTML elements that interact with the browser's history management system in unexpected ways. This improper handling occurs during the rendering process when Chrome processes navigation events and updates the Omnibox display. The flaw essentially allows attackers to inject false information into the browser's history stack, causing the URL bar to show misleading content while the actual page content remains unchanged. This manipulation occurs through the browser's internal mechanisms for tracking navigation history and updating the user interface elements that display navigation state. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic case of inadequate input validation and improper state management within the browser's rendering engine, creating a path for malicious content to influence user-perceived security information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attempts to encompass broader security implications for mobile browsing environments. Users operating on iOS devices with affected Chrome versions face increased risk of social engineering attacks where attackers can make users believe they are visiting legitimate websites while actually navigating to malicious domains. The vulnerability particularly affects mobile users who rely heavily on the browser's Omnibox for security verification, as the deception occurs in the very element designed to provide security assurance. Attackers could exploit this by creating pages that temporarily display fake URLs during navigation transitions, potentially during page load operations or when switching between different web resources. This creates a window of opportunity for users to be misled into believing they are on trusted sites while unknowingly interacting with malicious content. The vulnerability also impacts the effectiveness of security features like HTTPS indicators and security warnings, as the underlying deception can override these visual security cues.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate software updates to the affected Chrome versions, with users urged to upgrade to Chrome 70.0.3538.67 or later. Browser vendors should implement additional safeguards for history management and navigation state updates, particularly focusing on preventing malicious content from manipulating user interface elements that provide security context. The fix likely involves stricter validation of navigation events and enhanced isolation between different browsing contexts to prevent cross-contamination of history data. Organizations should also consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious navigation patterns and user behavior that might indicate successful exploitation attempts. Security teams should educate users about the importance of verifying URLs through multiple means rather than relying solely on visual indicators, and implement browser security policies that enforce automatic updates and maintain current security patches. This vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive testing for UI security elements and proper isolation of user interface components from potentially malicious content in web browsers.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper handling of sensitive information, and reflects techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under the T1566 category for social engineering attacks. The issue demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation flaws in browser security can have significant operational consequences, particularly in mobile environments where users may be more susceptible to UI-based deception attacks. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining consistent security practices across different platform implementations, as the iOS-specific nature of the flaw indicates potential platform-specific security gaps in the browser's architecture.