CVE-2018-6039 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient data validation in DevTools in Google Chrome prior to 64.0.3282.119 allowed a remote attacker to potentially leak user cross-origin data via a crafted Chrome Extension.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6039 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's DevTools component that existed prior to version 64.0.3282.119. This issue stems from inadequate data validation mechanisms within the browser's development tools interface, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit cross-origin data leakage. The vulnerability specifically targets the Chrome Extension framework, where malicious actors could craft specially designed extensions to bypass security boundaries that normally prevent unauthorized access to data from different origins. Such a flaw fundamentally undermines the browser's security model by allowing unauthorized data exfiltration across domain boundaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of data validation within DevTools, particularly when processing information from Chrome Extensions. When a malicious extension is installed and executed, it can leverage the insufficient validation to access resources and data that should normally be restricted due to cross-origin policies. This occurs because the DevTools component fails to properly verify or sanitize the data flow between different origins, creating a vector for information disclosure attacks. The flaw essentially allows an attacker to construct a crafted extension that can traverse the normal security boundaries that separate different web origins, enabling access to sensitive user data from other domains.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-6039 extends beyond simple data leakage, as it represents a significant compromise of user privacy and browser security. Attackers could potentially access cookies, local storage data, session information, and other sensitive user resources from different origins without proper authorization. This vulnerability particularly affects users who install third-party Chrome extensions, as these extensions can be weaponized to exploit the DevTools weakness and extract cross-origin information. The remote nature of the attack means that users do not need to interact with malicious content directly; simply having a compromised extension installed could lead to unauthorized data access.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate browser updates to versions 64.0.3282.119 and later, which contain the necessary patches to address the insufficient data validation issues. Users should also exercise extreme caution when installing Chrome extensions, particularly those from untrusted sources, as the vulnerability can be exploited through malicious extensions. Security administrators should implement strict extension management policies and regularly audit installed extensions to minimize exposure risk. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation," and relates to ATT&CK technique T1056.001, "Input Injection," as it involves the exploitation of validation weaknesses to inject malicious data flows. Organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect unusual data access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, and maintain regular security assessments to identify similar validation vulnerabilities in other browser components or web applications.