CVE-2019-13671 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
UI spoofing in Blink in Google Chrome prior to 77.0.3865.75 allowed a remote attacker to spoof security UI via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical user interface spoofing flaw in the Blink rendering engine that powers Google Chrome browsers. The issue stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that allow malicious actors to manipulate the browser's security user interface elements, potentially deceiving users into believing they are interacting with legitimate security prompts or warnings. The vulnerability exists within the browser's rendering and display logic where security UI components fail to properly validate their source and authenticity before presentation to end users.
The technical implementation of this flaw enables attackers to craft specially designed HTML pages that can override or mimic legitimate security indicators such as certificate warnings, phishing protection alerts, or other critical security notifications. This allows threat actors to create convincing fake security dialogs that appear to originate from the browser itself rather than from malicious third parties. The vulnerability specifically impacts Chrome versions prior to 77.0.3865.75, where the security validation mechanisms were insufficient to prevent such UI manipulation attacks. This type of attack falls under the category of cross-site scripting and user interface deception techniques that can bypass standard browser security controls.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it undermines the fundamental trust model of web browsers and user security awareness. Users may be tricked into entering sensitive information or performing actions they would normally avoid when presented with authentic security warnings. Attackers can exploit this flaw to conduct phishing campaigns, steal credentials, or manipulate users into executing malicious actions by making their fraudulent interfaces appear legitimate. The vulnerability creates a false sense of security where users trust interface elements that have been artificially constructed to appear trustworthy. This issue directly relates to attack techniques documented in the attack pattern taxonomy under the category of UI redressing and social engineering attacks.
The remediation for this vulnerability required Chrome developers to implement enhanced validation mechanisms for security UI elements within the Blink engine. The fix involved strengthening the source verification processes and ensuring that only legitimate browser components can render security warnings and prompts. This update demonstrates the importance of maintaining robust security boundaries within browser rendering engines and the necessity of validating all user interface elements against their intended sources. Organizations should ensure their Chrome installations are updated to version 77.0.3865.75 or later to mitigate this risk. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) and relates to ATT&CK techniques involving social engineering and credential access through UI manipulation.