CVE-2018-6093 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient origin checks in Blink in Google Chrome prior to 66.0.3359.117 allowed a remote attacker to leak cross-origin data via a crafted HTML page.
VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/23/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6093 represents a critical security flaw in the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome and other Chromium-based browsers. This issue stems from inadequate origin validation mechanisms within the browser's core rendering components, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit cross-origin data leakage. The vulnerability specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 66.0.3359.117, where the security controls designed to prevent unauthorized access between different origins were insufficiently implemented. The flaw resides in how the browser handles cross-origin resource requests and data sharing between different domains, fundamentally undermining the security boundaries that separate web applications and their respective origins.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the browser's failure to properly validate the origin of web content when processing crafted HTML pages. Attackers can construct malicious web pages that leverage the insufficient origin checks to access data from different origins that should normally be restricted by the same-origin policy. This allows for unauthorized cross-origin data exfiltration where sensitive information from one domain can be accessed by another domain without proper authorization. The vulnerability operates at the level of the browser's rendering engine, making it particularly dangerous as it can bypass traditional web application security controls and directly access memory or data structures that should remain isolated between different origins. The flaw essentially creates a bypass mechanism that allows attackers to circumvent the fundamental security model that protects users from cross-site scripting attacks and data leakage.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-6093 extends beyond simple data leakage, potentially enabling sophisticated attacks that can compromise user privacy and system integrity. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to harvest sensitive information from authenticated sessions, personal data, or corporate information stored on different domains within the same browser context. The implications are particularly severe in environments where users access multiple applications or services through a single browser instance, as the vulnerability can facilitate lateral movement and information gathering across different security domains. This type of cross-origin data leakage can lead to account takeover scenarios, sensitive data breaches, and the compromise of user credentials or personal information. The vulnerability also aligns with attack patterns described in the attack tree model where attackers can escalate privileges through information gathering and reconnaissance activities.
Organizations and users should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Chrome version 66.0.3359.117 or later, which includes the necessary security patches to address the insufficient origin checks. The mitigation strategy should also encompass regular browser updates and security monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should implement network monitoring solutions capable of detecting unusual cross-origin data transfer patterns and consider deploying web application firewalls that can identify and block malicious HTML content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation and origin checking mechanisms, principles that align with the security controls recommended in the OWASP Top Ten and the CWE catalog under categories related to insufficient input validation and cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. Additionally, this vulnerability reinforces the need for defense-in-depth strategies that include browser hardening, content security policies, and regular security assessments to prevent similar issues from compromising user security and privacy.