CVE-2019-13673 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient data validation in developer tools in Google Chrome prior to 77.0.3865.75 allowed a remote attacker to leak cross-origin data via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13673 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's developer tools implementation that existed prior to version 77.0.3865.75. This issue stems from inadequate data validation mechanisms within the browser's debugging and development interfaces, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit cross-origin data leakage. The vulnerability specifically targets the developer tools component which is designed to assist web developers in debugging and monitoring web applications, but in this case became a vector for unauthorized data access across different origins.
The technical flaw manifests through insufficient input validation within Chrome's developer tools framework, particularly when processing crafted HTML content. Attackers can construct malicious web pages that leverage the browser's developer interface to access and exfiltrate data from different origins without proper authorization. This occurs because the validation checks fail to properly sanitize or verify the data being processed through the developer tools, allowing crafted inputs to bypass normal cross-origin restrictions that typically protect users from such attacks. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser security boundaries, exploiting the trust placed in developer tools while simultaneously undermining the same-origin policy that governs web security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data leakage, as it enables sophisticated cross-origin information disclosure attacks that can compromise user privacy and web application security. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive data from other domains, potentially including session cookies, user credentials, personal information, or proprietary application data. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it a passive threat that can operate silently in the background. This type of vulnerability directly violates the fundamental security principle of cross-origin resource sharing restrictions and undermines the integrity of web browser security models.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-13673 primarily focus on updating to the patched version of Google Chrome 77.0.3865.75 or later, which addresses the insufficient data validation issue in the developer tools component. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies to ensure all users maintain current versions with security patches. Additionally, security teams should monitor for any exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and browser-based security controls. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage. Browser vendors should also consider implementing additional sandboxing measures for developer tools to reduce the attack surface while maintaining functionality for legitimate development purposes.