CVE-2018-6046 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-2018-6046 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 debugging interface that governs how Chrome extensions interact with cross-origin resources. The flaw specifically impacts the browser's developer tools functionality and creates a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the trust relationships between browser components and extension frameworks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of cross-origin data within Chrome's DevTools environment where extension developers can access debugging interfaces that should normally be restricted. When a malicious extension is crafted with specific parameters, it can leverage the insufficient validation to extract sensitive information from different origin domains. This occurs because the validation checks fail to properly verify the legitimacy of data requests originating from extensions, particularly those attempting to access resources beyond their intended scope. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser security boundaries where DevTools should maintain strict isolation between different origin contexts.
Operationally, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to user privacy and data integrity as it allows remote attackers to potentially access cross-origin data without proper authorization. The attack vector requires a malicious extension to be installed or executed within a victim's browser, but once active, the extension can leverage the DevTools interface to extract sensitive information from other domains. This capability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, session hijacking, or data exfiltration. The impact is particularly severe because it exploits the trust model that exists between legitimate extensions and the browser's debugging infrastructure.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which addresses "Improper Input Validation" and falls under the broader category of security flaws that undermine the integrity of browser security models. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and data access through legitimate system tools, specifically targeting the browser's debugging interfaces to bypass normal access controls. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign debugging features can become attack vectors when proper validation mechanisms are absent. Organizations and users should prioritize updating to Chrome version 64.0.3282.119 or later, which implements proper data validation controls within DevTools to prevent unauthorized cross-origin data access. Additionally, administrators should enforce strict extension review processes and monitor for suspicious extension behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts.