CVE-2023-1817 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 04/05/2023
Insufficient policy enforcement in Intents in Google Chrome on Android prior to 112.0.5615.49 allowed a remote attacker to bypass navigation restrictions via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-1817 represents a significant security weakness in Google Chrome's implementation of Android Intent handling mechanisms. This flaw resides within the browser's policy enforcement system that governs how applications interact with each other through Android's Intent framework, which serves as the primary inter-application communication mechanism in the Android operating system. The vulnerability specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 112.0.5615.49 and demonstrates how inadequate security controls in mobile browser implementations can create pathways for malicious actors to circumvent intended security boundaries.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and enforcement of Intent policies within Chrome's Android implementation. When a web page attempts to initiate an Intent action, the browser should enforce strict policy checks to ensure that only authorized and safe navigation targets are permitted. However, this vulnerability allows remote attackers to craft specially designed HTML pages that can bypass these critical policy checks, effectively enabling unauthorized navigation redirections. The flaw operates at the intersection of web content execution and native Android system interactions, where the browser's security model fails to properly validate the intent targets before execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-1817 extends beyond simple navigation bypasses, as it represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks within the Android ecosystem. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to redirect users to malicious applications, phishing sites, or exploit other system components through unauthorized Intent triggers. The medium severity classification reflects the fact that while this vulnerability does not directly enable arbitrary code execution or complete system compromise, it provides a foothold for attackers to manipulate user navigation and potentially escalate privileges through subsequent attacks. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-693, which addresses protection mechanism failures in software systems, particularly those involving access control and policy enforcement.
The attack surface for this vulnerability is primarily limited to Android devices running affected Chrome versions, making it particularly concerning for users who rely on mobile browsing for sensitive activities. The remote nature of the attack means that users can be compromised simply by visiting a malicious website, without requiring any additional user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior. This characteristic places the vulnerability in the ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for 'Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript', as the attack vector leverages JavaScript-based web content to manipulate native system behaviors. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the complexity of securing mobile browser environments where web content must interact with native system components through well-defined but potentially flawed communication channels.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-1817 primarily focus on immediate system updates and user awareness measures. Organizations should prioritize updating affected Chrome installations to version 112.0.5615.49 or later, which includes the necessary policy enforcement fixes. Additionally, implementing network-level monitoring to detect suspicious Intent-related traffic patterns can provide early warning capabilities. Users should exercise caution when visiting untrusted websites and consider enabling Chrome's built-in security features such as Safe Browsing and sandboxing mechanisms. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date mobile browser versions and demonstrates how seemingly minor policy enforcement gaps can create significant security risks in mobile operating environments where applications must maintain strict security boundaries while providing rich functionality to users.