CVE-2020-6472 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Insufficient policy enforcement in developer tools in Google Chrome prior to 83.0.4103.61 allowed an attacker who convinced a user to install a malicious extension to obtain potentially sensitive information from process memory or disk via a crafted Chrome Extension.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/06/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-6472 represents a critical weakness in Google Chrome's extension security model that existed prior to version 83.0.4103.61. This flaw stems from insufficient policy enforcement mechanisms within the browser's developer tools framework, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit user trust and system access. The vulnerability specifically targets the Chrome extension installation and execution process, where proper access controls and memory protection boundaries were not adequately enforced. Attackers could leverage this weakness by convincing users to install a malicious extension through social engineering or other deceptive means, effectively bypassing the normal security boundaries that should protect user data and system resources.
The technical nature of this vulnerability lies in the improper handling of privilege escalation within Chrome's extension architecture. When a user installs a malicious extension, the vulnerability allows the extension to access process memory and disk resources that should normally be restricted to the browser's core processes or other extensions. This occurs due to inadequate sandboxing mechanisms and insufficient validation of extension permissions during the installation process. The flaw essentially creates a backdoor that enables malicious extensions to read sensitive information from memory locations where user data, cookies, passwords, and other confidential information might be stored. This represents a classic case of insufficient privilege separation and inadequate access control enforcement that violates fundamental security principles.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-6472 extends beyond simple data theft, as it enables attackers to potentially access a wide range of sensitive information that could be used for identity theft, financial fraud, or corporate espionage. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the trust model inherent in browser extension systems, where users expect extensions to operate within defined boundaries and security constraints. Attackers could craft extensions that appear legitimate while simultaneously exploiting this weakness to extract confidential data from the victim's system. The attack vector typically involves phishing campaigns or other social engineering techniques that trick users into installing malicious extensions, making this vulnerability particularly effective against less security-conscious users. This flaw directly relates to CWE-284 (Improper Access Control) and CWE-276 (Incorrect Default Permissions) categories, which specifically address insufficient access control mechanisms and improper privilege management in software systems.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to Google Chrome version 83.0.4103.61 or later, where the security flaws have been addressed through improved policy enforcement and enhanced extension permission validation. Organizations should implement comprehensive extension management policies that restrict the installation of browser extensions to trusted sources only, and regularly audit installed extensions for suspicious activity. Security teams should also deploy monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous extension behavior patterns and implement network-based controls to prevent data exfiltration attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques such as T1176 (Browser Extensions) and T1059.001 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) where attackers leverage browser extension capabilities to maintain persistence and escalate privileges. The fix implemented by Google included strengthening the extension installation validation process, improving memory protection boundaries, and enhancing the sandboxing mechanisms that isolate extension processes from core system resources.