CVE-2023-0704 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 02/07/2023
Insufficient policy enforcement in DevTools in Google Chrome prior to 110.0.5481.77 allowed a remote attacker to bypass same origin policy and proxy settings via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-0704 resides within the DevTools component of Google Chrome, specifically manifesting as insufficient policy enforcement that could be exploited by remote attackers to circumvent critical web security mechanisms. This flaw existed in Chrome versions prior to 110.0.5481.77 and represents a significant concern for web application security and browser sandbox integrity. The vulnerability enables attackers to bypass the same origin policy, which serves as a fundamental security boundary in web browsers that prevents scripts from accessing resources across different origins. The same origin policy is a core security mechanism defined by the World Wide Web Consortium and implemented across all modern browsers to prevent cross-site scripting attacks and data theft between different domains. This bypass allows malicious actors to access resources that should be restricted, potentially leading to data exfiltration, session hijacking, or other malicious activities that compromise user privacy and security.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a crafted HTML page that leverages the DevTools functionality to manipulate browser behavior and access resources that would normally be restricted. The flaw specifically impacts proxy settings enforcement, which are critical for maintaining secure network communications and preventing unauthorized access to internal resources. When the DevTools component fails to properly enforce policy restrictions, it creates an attack surface that allows remote code execution or information disclosure through malicious web content. The Chromium security severity classification of Low indicates that while the vulnerability may not be immediately exploitable in all scenarios, it represents a legitimate security risk that could be combined with other vulnerabilities to create more sophisticated attacks. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-693, which describes protection mechanism failures, and particularly relates to CWE-352, which covers cross-site request forgery, though the specific mechanism involves policy enforcement rather than request manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-0704 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it undermines fundamental browser security models that users rely upon for protection against malicious web content. When attackers can bypass same origin policy restrictions, they gain the ability to perform actions that should be impossible within the browser's security model, potentially allowing them to access local files, manipulate browser state, or intercept communications between users and legitimate web services. The vulnerability affects the integrity of Chrome's security sandbox and could enable attackers to escalate privileges or access sensitive user data that would normally be protected by browser security mechanisms. Organizations using Chrome-based applications may experience compromised user sessions, unauthorized access to internal systems, or data leakage through network proxy bypass techniques that rely on the browser's security policies. The flaw particularly impacts enterprise environments where Chrome is used extensively for web-based applications and where users may be exposed to malicious content through phishing attacks, compromised websites, or social engineering campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-0704 focus primarily on updating Chrome to version 110.0.5481.77 or later, which includes the necessary policy enforcement improvements to prevent the bypass of same origin restrictions. Security administrators should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Chrome installations are updated promptly, particularly in enterprise environments where multiple browsers may be in use. Additional protective measures include implementing web application firewalls, monitoring for suspicious DevTools activity, and conducting regular security assessments of browser-based applications. Organizations should also consider implementing browser security policies through enterprise management tools to restrict DevTools access in production environments where such access could pose additional risks. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of continuous security monitoring and the need for robust policy enforcement mechanisms within browser components, as even seemingly minor flaws in security-critical components can have significant operational impacts. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through threat intelligence feeds and implement network-based detection measures to identify potential attempts to leverage this vulnerability in the wild. The ATT&CK framework classification for this vulnerability would fall under T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, specifically through the use of HTML content to execute malicious code, and potentially T1566 for spearphishing with a link, as the attack vector typically involves crafted web content delivered through phishing or malicious websites.