CVE-2019-13676 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient policy enforcement in Chromium in Google Chrome prior to 77.0.3865.75 allowed a remote attacker to perform domain spoofing via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/27/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13676 represents a critical security flaw in the Chromium browser engine that affected Google Chrome versions prior to 77.0.3865.75. This issue stems from insufficient policy enforcement mechanisms within the browser's security architecture, creating a pathway for remote attackers to execute domain spoofing attacks. The flaw specifically targets the browser's handling of HTML content and its validation processes, allowing malicious actors to craft deceptive web pages that could misleadingly display false domain information to users. Such attacks exploit the fundamental trust users place in browser address bars and security indicators, potentially leading to phishing attempts and credential theft. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser security policies and HTML rendering, where proper validation checks fail to adequately verify the authenticity of domain information presented to users.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the manipulation of HTML elements and browser rendering behaviors to bypass security checks that should normally prevent domain spoofing. Attackers can craft specially designed HTML pages that exploit weaknesses in how Chrome processes and displays domain information, particularly when dealing with certain URL formats or cross-origin resource handling. This vulnerability falls under the category of insufficient policy enforcement as defined by CWE-693, where the system fails to properly enforce security policies that should prevent unauthorized actions. The flaw specifically affects how the browser validates and displays domain information, creating a window where malicious actors can manipulate user perception of website authenticity. The attack vector is entirely remote, requiring no local system access or user interaction beyond visiting the malicious webpage, making it particularly dangerous in phishing scenarios.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-13676 extends beyond simple domain spoofing to potentially enable sophisticated social engineering attacks that can trick users into believing they are visiting legitimate websites. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability allows attackers to display false domain information in the browser's address bar or related UI elements, creating an environment where users cannot distinguish between genuine and malicious websites. This capability significantly undermines the security model of web browsers, as users rely on domain information to make trust decisions about website authenticity. The vulnerability affects all users of affected Chrome versions and poses a substantial risk to corporate security environments where phishing attacks are commonly used to gain unauthorized access to sensitive systems. The implications are particularly severe in enterprise settings where users may unknowingly provide credentials to attackers who have successfully spoofed trusted domains.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-13676 focus primarily on updating to Chrome version 77.0.3865.75 or later, which includes the necessary security patches to address the policy enforcement gaps. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly, as this vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild. Browser security configurations should be reviewed to ensure that additional security measures are in place, including the implementation of content security policies and regular security audits of web applications. Users should be educated about the risks of domain spoofing and trained to verify website authenticity through multiple means beyond just domain name verification. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser security models and the need for continuous monitoring of security advisories from vendors like Google. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving social engineering and credential access through phishing, making it a critical concern for organizations implementing security awareness training programs.