CVE-2023-4907 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/13/2023
Inappropriate implementation in Intents in Google Chrome on Android prior to 117.0.5938.62 allowed a remote attacker to obfuscate security UI via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/11/2023
This vulnerability resides in the Android implementation of Google Chrome's intent handling mechanism, specifically affecting versions prior to 117.0.5938.62. The flaw manifests as an inappropriate implementation in how the browser processes intent objects, which are used to communicate between applications and trigger specific actions within the Android operating system. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-693 weakness category, which deals with protection mechanism failures, particularly in the context of security UI obfuscation and user interface controls that should prevent malicious behavior.
The technical exploitation occurs when a remote attacker crafts a malicious HTML page that manipulates Chrome's intent handling system to obscure or disable security user interface elements. This allows attackers to hide security warnings, bypass security prompts, or manipulate the user's perception of the browser's security state. The vulnerability specifically targets the Android-specific intent implementation within Chrome, where intent objects are used to launch activities or services in other applications. When these intents are improperly handled, they can be used to suppress security notifications that would normally alert users to potentially dangerous actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple user experience manipulation, as it represents a significant degradation of the browser's security model. Attackers can leverage this flaw to make malicious actions appear legitimate by hiding security warnings, potentially leading to successful phishing attacks, drive-by downloads, or other social engineering exploits. The low severity classification does not diminish the risk, as it represents a fundamental breakdown in the browser's ability to maintain user awareness of security states, which is a core component of secure browsing environments. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Browser Scripting and T1566.001 for Phishing, as it enables more effective delivery of malicious content by removing security barriers that would otherwise alert users.
Mitigation strategies focus primarily on updating to Chrome version 117.0.5938.62 or later, which contains the patched intent handling implementation. Organizations should also implement network-level controls to monitor for suspicious intent-based navigation patterns and consider browser hardening measures that restrict the ability of web pages to manipulate system-level interactions. Security teams should conduct regular vulnerability assessments to ensure all Android devices running Chrome are properly updated, as this vulnerability could be exploited in conjunction with other attack vectors to create more sophisticated phishing campaigns or malicious software delivery mechanisms. The fix addresses the core issue by implementing proper validation and sanitization of intent objects before they are processed, ensuring that security UI elements remain visible and functional regardless of the originating webpage's intent.