CVE-2023-4363 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/15/2023
Inappropriate implementation in WebShare in Google Chrome on Android prior to 116.0.5845.96 allowed a remote attacker to spoof the contents of a dialog URL via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4363 resides within the WebShare API implementation in Google Chrome for Android, specifically affecting versions prior to 116.0.5845.96. This issue represents a security flaw in the browser's handling of web content sharing functionality that could potentially enable malicious actors to manipulate user interactions through deceptive web pages. The WebShare API is designed to allow web applications to share content with other applications installed on the device, but the implementation contains a critical oversight in how it processes and displays dialog URLs.
The technical flaw manifests when a malicious HTML page crafts a specific payload that exploits the way Chrome handles dialog URL display within the WebShare context. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of URL parameters that are passed to the sharing dialog interface. This allows an attacker to inject arbitrary content into the dialog that appears to originate from a legitimate source, creating a misleading user experience that could deceive users into interacting with malicious content. The issue falls under the category of improper input validation and insecure handling of user-provided data, aligning with CWE-20 which covers "Improper Input Validation" and CWE-79 which addresses "Cross-site Scripting Attacks."
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple deception as it creates a potential attack vector for social engineering campaigns and phishing attempts. When users encounter a spoofed dialog, they may unknowingly interact with malicious content or provide sensitive information to attackers. The medium severity classification indicates that while the vulnerability does not directly enable code execution or privilege escalation, it can be leveraged to manipulate user behavior and potentially lead to more serious security incidents. Attackers could use this vulnerability to make users believe they are interacting with trusted applications or services, undermining the security model of the browser and user trust in web applications.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-4363 primarily focus on updating to the patched version of Chrome for Android, specifically version 116.0.5845.96 or later. Organizations should ensure their mobile device management systems enforce automatic updates for the Chrome browser to minimize exposure windows. Additionally, security teams should implement network-level monitoring to detect and block suspicious web content that may attempt to exploit this vulnerability. Users should be educated about the importance of keeping their browsers updated and should be trained to recognize potentially deceptive user interfaces. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and output encoding in web APIs, as recommended by the OWASP Top Ten and aligned with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Phishing and T1566.002 for Spearphishing via Web Applications, which emphasize the need for robust client-side validation and secure user interface design to prevent manipulation of user interactions through crafted web content.