CVE-2023-4901 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/13/2023
Inappropriate implementation in Prompts in Google Chrome prior to 117.0.5938.62 allowed a remote attacker to potentially spoof security UI via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/11/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4901 represents a critical flaw in Google Chrome's handling of security user interface elements within the prompts system. This issue affects versions prior to 117.0.5938.62 and falls under the category of improper implementation that directly impacts the browser's ability to maintain security boundaries. The vulnerability stems from how Chrome processes and renders security-related prompts when encountering crafted HTML content, creating a potential attack surface for remote adversaries seeking to manipulate user perception of security warnings.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the browser's insufficient validation and sanitization of HTML elements that trigger security prompts. When users encounter malicious web content, the browser's prompt system fails to properly distinguish between legitimate security warnings and crafted deceptive elements that attempt to mimic security interfaces. This weakness allows attackers to construct HTML pages that can manipulate the visual presentation of security prompts, potentially causing users to make incorrect security decisions. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of web content rendering and security UI presentation, where the browser's security mechanisms become compromised by maliciously constructed HTML elements.
Operationally, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to execute social engineering attacks that exploit user trust in browser security warnings. An attacker could craft a webpage that displays a fake security prompt, potentially convincing users to grant permissions, enter credentials, or perform other security-sensitive actions. The medium severity classification reflects the potential for significant user impact while maintaining the limitation that the attack requires user interaction with malicious content. This type of vulnerability directly impacts the principle of least privilege and user verification, as users may be misled about the actual security state of their browser environment.
The security implications extend beyond simple deception to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks such as credential theft, permission abuse, or bypass of security controls. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-693, which addresses protection mechanism failures, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter usage, as attackers could leverage the compromised prompts to execute further malicious activities. The flaw demonstrates how improper handling of user interface elements can create security boundaries that are easily exploited. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including browser updates, user awareness training, and monitoring for suspicious prompt behavior. The remediation involves updating Chrome to version 117.0.5938.62 or later, which includes proper validation of HTML elements within security prompts. Security teams should also consider implementing additional browser hardening measures and monitoring for unusual prompt interactions that may indicate exploitation attempts.