CVE-2023-0700 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 02/07/2023
Inappropriate implementation in Download in Google Chrome prior to 110.0.5481.77 allowed a remote attacker to potentially spoof the contents of the Omnibox (URL bar) via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2025
This vulnerability resides in the Chrome browser's handling of download operations and represents a medium severity issue that could enable remote attackers to manipulate the Omnibox display. The flaw stems from an inadequate implementation in how Chrome processes download requests, specifically when dealing with crafted HTML content that can influence the browser's address bar presentation. The vulnerability affects versions prior to 110.0.5481.77 and demonstrates a concerning lack of proper validation in the browser's user interface rendering logic. Attackers could exploit this by constructing malicious web pages that manipulate the Omnibox contents, potentially leading to phishing attacks or user confusion about the actual website being visited.
The technical implementation flaw involves how Chrome's download system interacts with the user interface components that display URL information in the Omnibox. When a user initiates a download from a malicious website, the browser's internal logic fails to properly sanitize or validate the URL information being displayed, allowing crafted content to override or manipulate the visual representation of the current page address. This occurs because the download mechanism does not adequately separate the actual navigation context from the download initiation process, creating a vector for interface manipulation. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and specifically relates to CWE-693, which covers protection mechanism failures in user interfaces. The flaw demonstrates a classic case of insufficient sandboxing between different browser components, where download operations can inadvertently influence the display layer without proper boundary checks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple visual deception to potentially enable sophisticated social engineering attacks. Users may be misled into believing they are visiting legitimate websites when the Omnibox displays false information, creating opportunities for credential theft, financial fraud, or malware distribution. The medium severity classification reflects the balance between exploitability and the need for specific conditions to achieve successful manipulation. Attackers would need to convince users to visit malicious websites that trigger the download process while maintaining the spoofed display, making the attack somewhat more complex than direct phishing attempts. However, the potential for user confusion and the difficulty in detecting such manipulations make this a significant concern for browser security. The vulnerability also intersects with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers phishing campaigns, as the ability to manipulate URL display significantly enhances the effectiveness of social engineering attacks.
Mitigation strategies should focus on updating to Chrome version 110.0.5481.77 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the improper implementation. Organizations should also implement network-level monitoring to detect suspicious download patterns and user behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Browser security teams should consider additional safeguards to prevent cross-component interference between download operations and user interface elements, ensuring that download initiation cannot manipulate the Omnibox display without explicit user confirmation. Users should be educated about the importance of verifying URL information directly rather than relying solely on Omnibox appearance, and should be trained to recognize signs of potential spoofing attempts. The fix likely involves implementing stricter validation of URL data during download operations and ensuring proper isolation between different browser subsystems to prevent unauthorized manipulation of UI components.