CVE-2019-5812 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Inadequate security UI in iOS UI in Google Chrome prior to 74.0.3729.108 allowed a remote attacker to perform domain spoofing via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-5812 represents a critical security flaw in the user interface implementation of Google Chrome on iOS platforms. This issue stems from insufficient validation and presentation of security indicators within the browser's interface, creating an avenue for malicious actors to deceive users through deceptive web page presentations. The vulnerability specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 74.0.3729.108 on iOS operating systems, where the browser's security user interface fails to adequately distinguish between legitimate and malicious websites, thereby compromising user trust and security awareness.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the inadequate implementation of security UI elements that should normally alert users to potential security risks. When users navigate to malicious websites, the browser's interface does not properly display warning indicators or security status information that would normally alert users to domain mismatches or certificate issues. This flaw allows attackers to craft HTML pages that can manipulate the browser's UI to display misleading information, making it appear as though they are visiting a legitimate and secure website when they are actually interacting with a malicious domain. The vulnerability operates by exploiting the gap between what the browser should display to users and what it actually presents, creating a false sense of security that can lead to credential theft, data compromise, or other malicious activities.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-5812 extends beyond simple user deception to create significant risks for organizations and individuals who rely on Chrome for web browsing activities. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute sophisticated phishing campaigns where victims are tricked into entering sensitive information on fraudulent websites that appear legitimate due to the compromised security UI. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the user interface level, meaning that traditional network-based security measures may not detect or prevent the attack. Users who encounter such malicious pages may unknowingly provide personal information, login credentials, or financial data to attackers who have successfully spoofed the domain presentation. This type of attack aligns with the tactics described in the attack pattern taxonomy under the MITRE ATT&CK framework, specifically relating to credential access and defense evasion techniques that manipulate user perception and trust.
Security researchers have classified this vulnerability under the broader category of UI redressing or user interface manipulation attacks that exploit human factors in cybersecurity. The flaw demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining robust security user interfaces that cannot be easily bypassed or manipulated by attackers. Organizations should implement comprehensive security awareness training to help users recognize potential indicators of domain spoofing attempts, while also ensuring that all systems are updated to versions that address this specific vulnerability. The mitigation strategy requires immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to 74.0.3729.108 or later, which includes enhanced validation mechanisms for security UI elements. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing additional monitoring and detection capabilities to identify potential attempts to exploit this vulnerability, particularly in environments where users may be exposed to untrusted web content. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical interplay between technical security implementations and user interface design in maintaining overall system security posture, aligning with CWE categories related to user interface security and trust model violations that can lead to successful social engineering attacks.