CVE-2018-18865 in Royal Browser Extensions TS
Summary
by MITRE
The Royal browser extensions TS before 4.3.60728 (Release Date 2018-07-28) and TSX before 3.3.1 (Release Date 2018-09-13) allow Credentials Disclosure.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/15/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-18865 affects Royal browser extensions TS and TSX, specifically targeting versions prior to 4.3.60728 and 3.3.1 respectively. This credential disclosure vulnerability represents a significant security risk for users who rely on these extensions for their browser-based activities. The issue stems from improper handling of sensitive authentication data within the browser extension framework, creating potential attack vectors that could compromise user accounts and sensitive information. The vulnerability was discovered and reported in 2018, with patch releases issued to address the identified weaknesses in the extension's security architecture.
The technical flaw manifests in the insecure storage and transmission of user credentials within the browser extension environment. This weakness allows malicious actors to potentially intercept, access, or extract authentication tokens, passwords, or other sensitive data that users have stored or entered while using the affected extensions. The vulnerability falls under the category of credential handling flaws that can be exploited through various attack vectors including man-in-the-middle attacks, local privilege escalation, or exploitation of the extension's API endpoints. The flaw is particularly concerning because browser extensions operate with elevated privileges and often have access to sensitive user data across multiple websites and applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual user accounts to potentially compromise entire organizational security postures. When users install affected browser extensions, their credentials become vulnerable to unauthorized access, which could lead to account takeovers, data breaches, and unauthorized access to sensitive corporate resources. The vulnerability is especially dangerous in enterprise environments where users may have access to critical systems and data through their browser extensions. Attackers could leverage this weakness to gain persistent access to user sessions and potentially escalate privileges to access additional systems within the network. The exposure period for this vulnerability spans several months, providing ample opportunity for exploitation in the wild.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-18865 primarily focus on immediate patching of affected extensions to versions 4.3.60728 and 3.3.1 respectively. Users should verify their extension versions and update to the latest secure releases to eliminate the credential disclosure risk. Security administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of browser extensions deployed across their networks to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities. Additional protective measures include implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious credential access patterns and establishing secure credential management practices such as multi-factor authentication. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-522, which addresses insufficiently protected credentials, and corresponds to attack techniques in the ATT&CK framework under credential access and privilege escalation categories, emphasizing the importance of proper credential handling and storage mechanisms in browser-based applications.