CVE-2020-6482 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 bypass navigation restrictions via a crafted Chrome Extension.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-6482 represents a critical weakness in Google Chrome's extension security model that existed prior to version 83.0.4103.61. This flaw specifically targeted the developer tools component of the browser, which is designed to provide advanced functionality for web developers and extension creators. The issue stems from insufficient policy enforcement mechanisms that should have prevented malicious extensions from bypassing navigation restrictions imposed by the browser's security architecture. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser extension management and user interface security controls, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit the trust relationship between the browser and its extension ecosystem.
The technical flaw manifests through a sophisticated attack vector that leverages the Chrome Extension API to manipulate navigation behaviors. When a user installs a malicious extension, the vulnerability allows it to circumvent the normal restrictions that should prevent extensions from redirecting or controlling user navigation. This occurs because the policy enforcement mechanisms that should validate extension capabilities and restrict dangerous API usage were inadequately implemented. The flaw particularly affects the interaction between developer tools and extension permissions, where the browser's security model fails to properly validate the extension's intent and capabilities before granting elevated privileges. This vulnerability is classified under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control, and represents a significant weakness in the principle of least privilege enforcement within the browser's extension architecture.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-6482 extends beyond simple navigation manipulation to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. An attacker could use this vulnerability to redirect users to malicious websites, harvest sensitive information, or perform phishing attacks by bypassing the browser's built-in security controls. The attack requires social engineering to convince a user to install a malicious extension, but once installed, the vulnerability provides persistent access to navigation controls that could be exploited repeatedly. The risk is particularly elevated in environments where users frequently install third-party extensions or where browser security is not properly enforced. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1176, which describes the use of browser extensions for persistence and privilege escalation, and T1059, which covers the use of scripting and extension-based attacks.
Organizations and individual users should immediately update to Chrome version 83.0.4103.61 or later to mitigate this vulnerability, as the patch addresses the underlying policy enforcement issues in the developer tools component. System administrators should implement additional monitoring for suspicious extension installations and regularly audit installed extensions to identify potential malicious activity. The fix involves strengthening the validation mechanisms that check extension permissions and ensuring that navigation restrictions are properly enforced regardless of extension type. Security teams should also consider implementing browser security policies that limit extension installation capabilities and regularly review extension permissions to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive browser functions. This vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and demonstrates how seemingly minor security gaps in developer tools can have significant implications for overall browser security.