CVE-2022-2160 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 07/28/2022
Insufficient policy enforcement in DevTools in Google Chrome on Windows prior to 103.0.5060.53 allowed an attacker who convinced a user to install a malicious extension to obtain potentially sensitive information from a user's local files via a crafted HTML page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/02/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Google Chrome's DevTools implementation on Windows platforms, affecting versions prior to 103.0.5060.53. The issue stems from insufficient policy enforcement mechanisms that fail to properly validate the security context of extensions installed through malicious means. The vulnerability operates under the weakness category of insufficient enforcement of security policies, which aligns with CWE-250 and falls within the broader scope of privilege escalation vulnerabilities. Attackers could exploit this weakness by convincing users to install malicious extensions, leveraging the trust relationship between DevTools and locally installed extensions to bypass normal security boundaries.
The technical execution of this vulnerability occurs through a crafted HTML page that exploits the trust model between Chrome's DevTools interface and extension components. When a user visits such a malicious page, the compromised extension can leverage DevTools' elevated privileges to access local file system resources without proper user consent or authorization. This represents a significant bypass of Chrome's security architecture, as the DevTools component should enforce strict access controls and policy enforcement mechanisms that prevent unauthorized file system access. The vulnerability specifically targets the Windows implementation where the DevTools security boundaries are insufficiently enforced, creating a pathway for information disclosure attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it allows attackers to potentially access sensitive user data stored locally on the system. This includes but is not limited to personal documents, configuration files, and potentially system credentials or authentication tokens stored in local files. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires only user interaction to install a malicious extension, making it difficult to defend against through traditional network-based security measures. This vulnerability creates a persistent threat model where once a user installs a malicious extension, the attacker maintains access to local files even after the initial compromise, representing a long-term information gathering capability.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves immediate patching of Chrome to version 103.0.5060.53 or later, which implements proper policy enforcement mechanisms within DevTools. Organizations should also implement extension management policies that restrict the installation of unsigned or untrusted extensions, particularly in enterprise environments where user behavior can be more predictable. Security teams should monitor for suspicious extension installations and implement browser hardening measures that limit DevTools access to only trusted users or processes. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper privilege separation and access control enforcement, as outlined in the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.001 technique for command and scripting interpreter execution, where the compromised DevTools environment becomes a vector for further exploitation. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing stronger access controls and ensuring that DevTools components properly enforce security policies regardless of extension installation status, preventing unauthorized file system access through compromised extension channels.