CVE-2019-13759 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Incorrect security UI in interstitials 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 • 03/10/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-13759 represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's interstitial user interface implementation that existed prior to version 79.0.3945.79. This issue falls under the broader category of user interface security concerns where the browser's warning mechanisms failed to properly validate or display security information during potentially dangerous navigation scenarios. The vulnerability specifically impacts Chrome's handling of interstitial pages that are displayed when the browser detects suspicious or potentially harmful web content, which are designed to alert users about security risks and prevent them from proceeding to dangerous websites.
The technical flaw manifests in the improper rendering of security interstitials where the browser fails to adequately distinguish between legitimate and malicious domains during the display of warning pages. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious HTML pages that manipulate the interstitial UI elements to present misleading domain information. This allows for domain spoofing attacks where users might be deceived into believing they are visiting a trusted website when in reality they are interacting with a malicious page. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of domain information within the interstitial rendering process, enabling attackers to inject or manipulate the displayed domain name in a way that bypasses normal security checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attacks to encompass broader security risks for Chrome users. When users encounter interstitial warnings about potentially dangerous websites, they rely on the displayed domain information to make informed decisions about whether to proceed. The ability to spoof this information creates a significant attack surface where malicious actors can bypass user security awareness and trust mechanisms. This vulnerability directly affects the browser's ability to provide meaningful security protection, potentially leading to credential theft, malware distribution, and other malicious activities that rely on user trust and deception. The attack vector requires only a crafted HTML page, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise while providing substantial potential for harm.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-13759 primarily focus on updating to Chrome version 79.0.3945.79 or later where the security flaw has been addressed through enhanced validation of interstitial UI elements and improved domain information handling. Organizations should ensure their Chrome installations are regularly updated to maintain protection against this and similar vulnerabilities. Security researchers and organizations can implement additional monitoring for suspicious interstitial behavior and user interactions with potentially dangerous sites. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) and relates to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) when considering the broader context of protocol manipulation and user deception. Browser vendors should continue to implement robust security UI validation mechanisms and regularly audit their interstitial implementations to prevent similar vulnerabilities from emerging in future releases. This case highlights the critical importance of maintaining strong security boundaries even in user-facing interfaces where user trust and attention are paramount considerations.