CVE-2019-13740 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Incorrect security UI in sharing in Google Chrome prior to 79.0.3945.79 allowed a remote attacker to perform domain spoofing via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/09/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13740 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's user interface handling during web content sharing operations. This issue affected Chrome versions prior to 79.0.3945.79 and specifically targeted the browser's security indicators that users rely upon to verify website authenticity. The flaw enabled malicious actors to manipulate the visual presentation of sharing prompts, creating deceptive interfaces that could mislead users into believing they were interacting with legitimate websites when in fact they were engaging with attacker-controlled content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of security UI elements within Chrome's sharing mechanisms. When users initiated sharing operations or encountered web content that triggered sharing prompts, the browser failed to properly verify the authenticity of the security indicators displayed. This weakness allowed attackers to craft HTML pages that could manipulate the visual appearance of sharing interfaces, potentially displaying false domain information or misleading security warnings. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of user interface security and web content rendering, exploiting the trust users place in browser security indicators.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly impacted user security awareness and could lead to successful phishing attacks or credential theft attempts. Attackers could create malicious web pages that appear to be legitimate sharing interfaces, potentially tricking users into entering sensitive information or granting unauthorized access to their accounts. The domain spoofing capability means that users might be deceived into believing they are interacting with trusted domains, undermining the fundamental security model that browsers employ to protect users from malicious websites. This type of attack falls under the broader category of user interface deception attacks that exploit human factors in security.
The security implications extend beyond simple deception to encompass potential privilege escalation and data compromise scenarios. When users trust the visual security indicators presented by browsers, they may inadvertently grant permissions or share sensitive information with malicious actors. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-693, which addresses Protection Mechanism Failure, and represents a specific instance where the browser's security UI mechanisms failed to properly validate or present security information to users. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this under T1566, which involves social engineering techniques using deceptive UI elements to manipulate user behavior.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-13740 primarily involve updating to Chrome version 79.0.3945.79 or later, where Google implemented proper validation of security UI elements during sharing operations. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including user education about suspicious UI elements, network monitoring for potential exploitation attempts, and regular browser updates as part of their security protocols. Security teams should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected Chrome versions and ensure timely patch deployment. The fix implemented by Google addressed the root cause by strengthening the validation mechanisms that govern how security UI elements are rendered during sharing operations, ensuring that users receive accurate and trustworthy security information during web interactions.