CVE-2024-9962 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 10/16/2024
Inappropriate implementation in Permissions in Google Chrome prior to 130.0.6723.58 allowed a remote attacker who convinced a user to engage in specific UI gestures to perform UI spoofing via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/05/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical flaw in Google Chrome's permission handling system that could be exploited through social engineering techniques to deceive users into performing unintended actions. The issue stems from an inadequate implementation of permission controls that fails to properly validate user interactions, creating opportunities for malicious actors to manipulate the browser's user interface. The vulnerability specifically affects Chrome versions prior to 130.0.6723.58 and operates under the chromium security severity classification of medium, indicating its potential for significant impact despite not being classified as critical.
The technical implementation flaw manifests when a remote attacker crafts a malicious HTML page that can manipulate the browser's permission dialogs and user interface elements. Through carefully designed web content, an attacker can trick users into performing specific UI gestures that would normally require explicit user consent, effectively bypassing the intended permission flow. This occurs because the browser does not adequately distinguish between legitimate user interactions and those that have been artificially induced through crafted web content. The vulnerability exploits the gap between how Chrome interprets user intent and how it validates the authenticity of UI interactions, creating a window of opportunity for UI spoofing attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple permission bypassing, as it enables attackers to conduct sophisticated phishing operations and social engineering campaigns. When successful, the exploit allows attackers to manipulate permission dialogs to appear as if they are legitimate system prompts, potentially leading users to grant access to sensitive resources or perform actions they would not normally consent to. This capability significantly increases the effectiveness of various attack vectors including credential theft, data exfiltration, and privilege escalation. The medium severity classification reflects the balance between the complexity required to execute the attack and the potential damage that can be achieved through successful exploitation.
Organizations and individual users should immediately update to Chrome version 130.0.6723.58 or later to mitigate this vulnerability, as the fix addresses the core implementation flaw in the permission handling system. Security teams should also implement monitoring for suspicious browser behavior and user interaction patterns that might indicate attempted exploitation. The vulnerability aligns with several attack patterns documented in the attack tree model, particularly those involving user interface manipulation and social engineering techniques. From a compliance perspective, this vulnerability represents a potential violation of security standards such as those outlined in iso/iec 27001 and nist cybersecurity framework, which emphasize the importance of robust access control mechanisms and user interface integrity. Additionally, the issue demonstrates the ongoing challenges in maintaining secure user interaction patterns within modern web browsers where the boundary between legitimate application functionality and malicious exploitation can become increasingly blurred.