CVE-2024-1676 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 02/21/2024
Inappropriate implementation in Navigation in Google Chrome prior to 122.0.6261.57 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 • 12/19/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-1676 represents a security flaw in Google Chrome's navigation implementation that affects versions prior to 122.0.6261.57. This issue falls under the category of improper implementation within the browser's security user interface mechanisms, specifically related to how Chrome handles navigation events and displays security indicators to users. The vulnerability is classified with a low severity rating by Chromium security standards, yet it presents significant risks in the context of social engineering and phishing attacks.
The technical flaw stems from how Chrome's navigation system processes and displays security UI elements when users navigate through web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious HTML pages that manipulate the browser's security indicators, potentially causing users to believe they are visiting legitimate websites when they are actually interacting with spoofed interfaces. This manipulation occurs during navigation events where the browser's security UI should clearly indicate the actual origin and security status of web content. The vulnerability exploits the gap between how navigation events are processed and how security warnings are displayed to users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple user interface confusion to create potential vectors for more sophisticated attacks. When users encounter spoofed security UI elements, they may unknowingly provide sensitive information to malicious actors or execute unintended actions on compromised sites. The low severity classification does not diminish the practical risk as it can be easily leveraged in phishing campaigns, credential harvesting attempts, or other social engineering attacks where trust in the browser's security indicators is crucial. Attackers can craft pages that appear legitimate while actually redirecting users to malicious destinations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-1676 primarily focus on updating to the patched version of Google Chrome 122.0.6261.57 or later, which addresses the navigation implementation flaw and restores proper security UI behavior. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all systems are updated promptly. Browser security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious navigation patterns and user interactions that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 Access Control Issues and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1566 Phishing within the broader context of social engineering attacks that exploit user trust in browser security indicators.
This vulnerability highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining robust security UI implementations in modern browsers where user trust and interface integrity are paramount. The complexity of navigation handling in web browsers creates multiple potential attack surfaces where security indicators can be manipulated, requiring continuous vigilance and regular updates to maintain effective protection against such social engineering exploits.