CVE-2020-6538 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE
Inappropriate implementation in WebView in Google Chrome on Android prior to 84.0.4147.105 allowed a remote attacker to leak cross-origin data via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-6538 represents a critical security flaw in the WebView component of Google Chrome on Android systems. This issue stems from an inappropriate implementation that fails to properly enforce cross-origin resource sharing policies, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's security boundaries. The vulnerability specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 84.0.4147.105, where the WebView component lacks adequate safeguards against unauthorized data access across different origins. This flaw exists within the browser's rendering engine and represents a fundamental breakdown in the security model that separates different web domains and protects user data from unauthorized access.
The technical implementation flaw manifests when a crafted HTML page is loaded within the WebView environment, allowing attackers to leverage the vulnerability to extract sensitive data from cross-origin resources. The vulnerability operates by bypassing the standard security mechanisms that should prevent a web page from accessing content from different domains or origins. This type of flaw falls under the category of cross-origin data leakage, which is classified as CWE-200 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. The issue is particularly concerning because it enables remote code execution and data exfiltration without requiring user interaction or elevated privileges, making it a significant threat to user privacy and system security.
The operational impact of CVE-2020-6538 extends beyond simple data leakage, as it can lead to comprehensive information disclosure attacks that compromise user confidentiality. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to access sensitive user data, session cookies, authentication tokens, and other confidential information stored in cross-origin contexts. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that malicious actors can deliver the crafted HTML payload through various attack vectors including phishing emails, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements. This attack surface is particularly dangerous because WebView components are widely used across Android applications, making the vulnerability potentially accessible to millions of users who may unknowingly encounter malicious content through legitimate applications that utilize WebView for web content rendering.
Organizations and users should prioritize immediate remediation through the installation of Chrome version 84.0.4147.105 or later, which includes patches addressing the cross-origin data leakage vulnerability. System administrators should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all Android applications utilizing WebView components are updated to versions that contain the necessary security fixes. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework as a data exposure technique emphasizes the importance of defending against information disclosure attacks that leverage browser security weaknesses. Additional mitigations include implementing web application firewalls, monitoring for suspicious cross-origin requests, and maintaining up-to-date security policies that address the risks associated with WebView implementations. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify applications that may be susceptible to similar cross-origin resource sharing flaws, ensuring comprehensive protection against this and related attack vectors.