CVE-2023-5486 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/25/2023
Inappropriate implementation in Input in Google Chrome prior to 118.0.5993.70 allowed a remote attacker to spoof security UI via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/30/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-5486 represents a security flaw in Google Chrome's handling of input validation mechanisms that could potentially be exploited by remote attackers to manipulate user interface elements. This issue affects Chrome versions prior to 118.0.5993.70 and is categorized as a low severity vulnerability within the Chromium security framework. The flaw specifically relates to how Chrome processes and validates input data within HTML pages, creating a potential avenue for attackers to deceive users through misleading security warnings or notifications.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in Chrome's insufficient validation of input parameters that control the display of security user interface elements. When a malicious actor crafts a specially designed HTML page, the browser's inadequate input handling allows the attacker to manipulate the visual presentation of security warnings or prompts that normally appear to protect users from potential threats. This spoofing capability undermines the trust model that security UI elements are designed to establish between the browser and the user.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a significant risk for users who may be tricked into believing they are seeing legitimate security warnings when in fact they are encountering attacker-controlled content. The low severity classification does not diminish the potential impact on user trust and security awareness, as users may be misled into making decisions based on false security information. The attack vector requires remote execution through web-based content, making it particularly concerning in environments where users frequently browse untrusted websites or receive malicious content through various channels.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a specific implementation gap in Chrome's security UI handling that could potentially be leveraged in conjunction with other attack vectors. Security researchers have noted that while the immediate impact appears limited to UI manipulation, such flaws can serve as stepping stones for more sophisticated attacks that exploit user psychology and trust in security warnings. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader security assessment, particularly in environments where user behavior and security awareness are critical factors.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Chrome versions to 118.0.5993.70 or later, which includes the necessary fixes for input validation and security UI handling. Additionally, security teams should monitor for any related exploitation attempts in the wild and consider implementing web filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious HTML content that attempts to exploit this or similar input validation vulnerabilities. Regular security updates and user education about recognizing potentially malicious security warnings can further reduce the risk associated with this and related vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include verification that the patched version properly handles input validation scenarios and that security UI elements cannot be easily spoofed through crafted web content.