CVE-2018-6161 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient policy enforcement in Blink in Google Chrome prior to 68.0.3440.75 allowed a remote attacker to bypass same origin policy via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/17/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-6161 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's Blink rendering engine that existed prior to version 68.0.3440.75. This issue stems from insufficient policy enforcement mechanisms that govern how web content interacts with different origins, fundamentally undermining the browser's core security architecture. The same origin policy serves as a fundamental security boundary in web browsers, preventing scripts from one origin from accessing resources or data from another origin without proper authorization. When this policy is weakened or bypassed, it creates significant attack vectors that can be exploited by remote adversaries.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows a remote attacker to craft a malicious HTML page that can circumvent the same origin policy restrictions. This typically involves leveraging specific browser behaviors or implementation gaps in Blink's security controls that should normally prevent cross-origin data access. The flaw operates at the browser engine level, meaning it affects how Chrome processes and renders web content rather than being a user-facing interface issue. Attackers can exploit this weakness to access sensitive data, perform unauthorized operations, or escalate privileges within the browser environment.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-6161 extends beyond simple data theft, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in browser security boundaries that can enable more sophisticated attacks. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could potentially access cookies, local storage, or other origin-specific data that should normally be isolated. This bypass capability can lead to session hijacking, credential theft, or the execution of malicious code across different origins. The remote nature of the attack means that users can be compromised simply by visiting a malicious website, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised websites.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses insufficient access control, and relates to the broader category of browser-based attacks that target the underlying security model. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this issue maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and persistence, as attackers can use the bypassed security controls to maintain access to systems or data. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including mandatory browser updates to version 68.0.3440.75 or later, which contains the necessary patches to restore proper policy enforcement. Additionally, network-level protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls can provide additional defense in depth. Regular security assessments and monitoring for suspicious browser behavior should also be implemented to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of keeping browser software current and maintaining robust security practices to protect against sophisticated web-based attacks that target fundamental security controls.