CVE-2023-4364 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 08/15/2023
Inappropriate implementation in Permission Prompts in Google Chrome prior to 116.0.5845.96 allowed a remote attacker to obfuscate security UI via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2023
The vulnerability described in CVE-2023-4364 represents a critical flaw in Google Chrome's permission prompt implementation that undermines user security awareness and trust in the browser's protective mechanisms. This issue affects Chrome versions prior to 116.0.5845.96 and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation gaps can create significant security risks. The vulnerability falls under the category of user interface security flaws where the browser's permission prompt system fails to properly handle crafted HTML content that could manipulate or obscure security warnings. This type of vulnerability specifically targets the user interface elements that are designed to alert users to potential security risks when websites request access to system resources or user data. The flaw allows remote attackers to craft malicious HTML pages that can interfere with the normal presentation of permission prompts, potentially making security warnings less visible or completely hiding them from users. The Chromium security severity rating of Medium indicates that while the vulnerability does not directly enable arbitrary code execution or data theft, it significantly compromises the browser's ability to protect users from potentially harmful website interactions.
The technical implementation flaw stems from insufficient validation and sanitization of HTML content within permission prompt interfaces. When websites request permissions, Chrome displays security UI elements to inform users about the requested access levels and potential risks. However, the vulnerability allows attackers to inject crafted HTML that can manipulate the visual presentation or behavior of these prompts. This manipulation could involve overlaying malicious content over legitimate security warnings, altering the appearance of permission request dialogs, or using CSS and JavaScript techniques to obscure important security information. The flaw particularly affects how the browser renders permission prompts in response to various web APIs such as geolocation, camera, microphone, and file system access requests. Attackers can exploit this by creating web pages that present legitimate-looking permission requests while simultaneously hiding or obfuscating warning messages about the actual risks involved. This creates a deceptive user experience where users may unknowingly grant permissions they would have otherwise denied if properly informed of the risks.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-4364 extends beyond simple user interface manipulation as it fundamentally undermines the trust model that modern browsers establish with their users. Users rely on permission prompts to make informed decisions about website access to their system resources, and when these prompts become unreliable or obscured, it creates a dangerous situation where users may grant permissions without proper understanding of the consequences. This vulnerability particularly affects scenarios where websites attempt to request sensitive permissions such as camera or microphone access, location services, or file system operations. The attack surface becomes more significant when considering that users may be more likely to grant permissions if the security warnings are obscured or manipulated, potentially leading to unauthorized access to personal data, device capabilities, or network resources. The vulnerability also increases the risk of social engineering attacks where attackers combine the obfuscation techniques with phishing or deceptive website designs to further manipulate user behavior.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to Chrome version 116.0.5845.96 or later where the permission prompt implementation has been corrected to properly validate and sanitize HTML content. Browser vendors should implement robust input sanitization and content security policies specifically for permission prompt interfaces to prevent malicious HTML injection. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security measures such as user education about recognizing legitimate permission prompts, network monitoring for suspicious permission request patterns, and browser hardening configurations that further restrict potentially dangerous HTML content. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-79 which describes Cross-Site Scripting (XSS) vulnerabilities, particularly those involving UI redressing or deception attacks. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566.001 (Phishing) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as attackers could use the obfuscated prompts to facilitate phishing attacks or manipulate user interactions with network protocols. Security teams should also consider implementing browser security extensions or enterprise security policies that further restrict the execution of potentially malicious HTML content in contexts where user interface elements are involved, particularly around permission and authentication prompts. The remediation process requires not only updating the browser but also ensuring that enterprise environments properly deploy these updates across all user devices to maintain consistent security coverage.