CVE-2023-3740 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/02/2023
Insufficient validation of untrusted input in Themes in Google Chrome prior to 115.0.5790.98 allowed a remote attacker to potentially serve malicious content to a user via a crafted background URL. (Chromium security severity: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/09/2023
This vulnerability resides in the theme handling mechanism of google chrome browsers, specifically affecting versions prior to 115.0.5790.98. the flaw manifests as insufficient validation of untrusted input when processing theme backgrounds, creating a potential attack vector for remote adversaries to deliver malicious content through carefully crafted background urls. the vulnerability falls under the category of input validation failures that can lead to various security implications including content injection and potential user deception. according to chromium security severity classification, this issue is rated as low severity, however the potential for malicious content delivery through theme customization makes it a significant concern for user safety and privacy. the vulnerability represents a weakness in the browser's input sanitization process where theme background urls are not properly validated before being processed and displayed to users.
the technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's theme engine accepting user-provided background urls without adequate validation of their content or origin. when a user loads a theme with a malicious background url, the browser processes this input without sufficient checks to ensure the url points to legitimate content. this lack of validation allows attackers to craft background urls that may contain malicious javascript, redirect to phishing sites, or serve other harmful content that could be executed within the browser context. the flaw specifically impacts how chrome handles theme customization features, where users can specify background images through url parameters, creating an attack surface that malicious actors can exploit to deliver content that appears legitimate but contains hidden malicious code.
operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple content delivery to potentially compromise user security and privacy. when users encounter malicious themes with compromised background urls, they may unknowingly interact with content that could lead to credential theft, malware installation, or other malicious activities. the attack requires a user to actively load or apply a malicious theme, but once executed, the malicious background url could trigger various security issues including cross-site scripting attacks, phishing attempts, or content injection that could be difficult to detect. this vulnerability particularly affects users who frequently customize their browser themes or use third-party themes from untrusted sources, creating a broader attack surface for malicious actors targeting chrome users.
mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve both immediate remediation and long-term security practices. the primary and most effective solution is updating to google chrome version 115.0.5790.98 or later, which includes the necessary patches to properly validate theme background urls. users should also exercise caution when installing themes from third-party sources and verify the legitimacy of theme providers before applying customizations. browser administrators should implement security policies that restrict theme installation from untrusted sources and monitor for suspicious theme activity. additional defensive measures include enabling chrome's built-in security features such as safe browsing and content filtering, along with regular security audits of installed themes and extensions. this vulnerability highlights the importance of proper input validation and sanitization in web browsers, aligning with common weakness enumeration cwe-20 which addresses improper input validation. the attack pattern relates to attack technique t1059 in the attack framework, which involves executing malicious code through various vectors including browser-based attacks and content injection methods. organizations should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect and prevent malicious url patterns that could exploit this vulnerability.