CVE-2018-18353 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Failure to dismiss http auth dialogs on navigation in Network Authentication in Google Chrome on Android prior to 71.0.3578.80 allowed a remote attacker to confuse the user about the origin of an auto dialog via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/01/2024
This vulnerability resides in the network authentication handling mechanism of Google Chrome on Android platforms, specifically affecting versions prior to 71.0.3578.80. The flaw represents a critical user interface deception issue that exploits the browser's failure to properly dismiss HTTP authentication dialogs when users navigate away from pages. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-613 which addresses insufficient session management and improper handling of authentication states during navigation events. Attackers can craft malicious HTML pages that trigger authentication dialogs, then manipulate the user interface to create confusion about the true origin of these prompts, potentially leading to credential theft or unauthorized access to sensitive resources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from Chrome's inadequate state management during page navigation sequences. When a user encounters an HTTP authentication dialog and subsequently navigates to a different page, the browser should properly dismiss the authentication prompt to prevent user confusion. However, in affected versions, the authentication dialog remains visible or reappears on new pages, creating a deceptive user experience where the attacker-controlled dialog appears to originate from a legitimate website. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of user interface integrity and authentication flow management, as defined by the OWASP authentication and session management guidelines.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple user confusion to potentially enable sophisticated phishing attacks and credential harvesting operations. An attacker can craft HTML pages that display authentic-looking authentication dialogs while simultaneously redirecting users to malicious endpoints. The persistent nature of these dialogs can cause users to unknowingly provide credentials to the attacker's server, believing they are authenticating with a legitimate service. This vulnerability particularly affects mobile users who may be less familiar with browser security indicators and more susceptible to interface manipulation attacks. The attack vector requires no special privileges and can be executed through standard web browsing activities, making it highly exploitable in real-world scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to Chrome version 71.0.3578.80 or later, where proper dialog dismissal mechanisms have been implemented. Security-conscious organizations should enforce automatic browser updates and maintain strict version control policies to ensure all devices operate on secure versions. Additionally, users should be educated about recognizing authentic authentication prompts and understanding the importance of verifying website origins before entering credentials. Network administrators can implement additional security measures such as content security policies and authentication header controls to reduce the attack surface. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to technique T1557.001 (Adversary-in-the-Middle) and T1547.001 (Registry Run Keys/Startup Folder) as attackers may use this deception to establish persistent access or manipulate authentication flows. The vulnerability also aligns with the principle of least privilege as it exploits the browser's failure to properly enforce authentication boundaries during navigation events, potentially allowing attackers to bypass intended security controls.