CVE-2018-6113 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Improper handling of pending navigation entries in Navigation in Google Chrome on iOS prior to 66.0.3359.117 allowed a remote attacker to perform domain spoofing via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6113 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's navigation handling mechanism on iOS platforms. This issue stems from inadequate management of pending navigation entries within the browser's navigation system, creating a pathway for malicious actors to manipulate the display of web addresses during page transitions. The flaw specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 66.0.3359.117, leaving millions of iOS users exposed to potential deception attacks. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser security architecture and user interface presentation, where the improper handling of navigation state transitions creates an opportunity for attackers to exploit the visual representation of web addresses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the gap between when a navigation request is initiated and when it completes, allowing attackers to manipulate the URL displayed in the browser's address bar or navigation controls. During these transitional states, the browser fails to properly validate or sanitize the navigation entry information, enabling crafted HTML content to inject misleading domain information. This occurs because the navigation system does not adequately verify the authenticity of pending entries against the actual destination of the navigation request. The flaw essentially creates a temporal window where the browser's user interface can be manipulated to display false information while the actual navigation is in progress, leveraging the trust users place in the visual address representation.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables sophisticated domain spoofing attacks that can deceive users into believing they are visiting legitimate websites when they are actually navigating to malicious domains. Attackers can craft HTML pages that manipulate the browser's navigation state to display a trusted domain name while simultaneously redirecting to an attacker-controlled malicious site. This creates a highly effective phishing vector that bypasses traditional security measures since the displayed URL appears legitimate to users who rely on address bar information for security assessment. The impact extends beyond simple deception to potentially enable credential theft, malware delivery, and other malicious activities that depend on user trust in the displayed domain information.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, "Improper Input Validation," and represents a specific implementation weakness in Chrome's navigation handling that violates security principles of input sanitization and state management. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving social engineering and credential access through deceptive user interface manipulation. The attack vector leverages the trust model inherent in web browsers where users implicitly trust the information displayed in the address bar, making this a particularly dangerous flaw in the context of mobile browsing where users may be less vigilant due to smaller screen sizes and different interaction patterns. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Chrome versions and implement additional security measures such as URL monitoring and user education about recognizing potential spoofing attempts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate deployment of Chrome version 66.0.3359.117 or later, which includes proper handling of pending navigation entries and validation of navigation state transitions. Network administrators should consider implementing additional security layers including web application firewalls and URL filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious navigation patterns. Browser security policies should be enhanced to include more rigorous validation of navigation entries and implementation of stricter cross-origin resource sharing controls. Users should be educated about the importance of verifying URL information even when displayed in the browser's address bar, particularly when navigating to unfamiliar sites or when the navigation appears to take an unexpected path. Organizations should also consider implementing browser hardening measures that restrict access to potentially dangerous navigation patterns and monitor for unusual navigation behavior that could indicate exploitation attempts.