CVE-2025-0451 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 02/04/2025
Inappropriate implementation in Extensions API in Google Chrome prior to 133.0.6943.53 allowed a remote attacker who convinced a user to engage in specific UI gestures to perform UI spoofing via a crafted Chrome Extension. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-0451 represents a significant security flaw within Google Chrome's Extensions API implementation that could potentially enable sophisticated phishing attacks through UI spoofing techniques. This issue affects Chrome versions prior to 133.0.6943.53 and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation gaps in browser extension frameworks can create substantial attack vectors for remote adversaries seeking to deceive users through deceptive user interfaces. The vulnerability specifically exploits the improper handling of UI elements within the extension management system, allowing malicious actors to craft extensions that can manipulate the browser's user interface in ways that bypass normal security boundaries.
The technical flaw manifests through an inadequate validation mechanism in Chrome's Extensions API that fails to properly isolate the visual presentation components of browser extensions from malicious code execution. When users interact with specific UI gestures, the extension framework incorrectly processes the visual elements, creating opportunities for attackers to overlay deceptive interfaces that mimic legitimate browser components. This weakness falls under the category of improper input validation and inadequate separation of concerns within the browser's extension architecture, which aligns with CWE-20 (Improper Input Validation) and CWE-691 (Insufficient Control Flow Management). The vulnerability's medium severity classification reflects the need for user interaction to initiate the attack vector, though this requirement does not diminish the potential impact of successful exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attempts to encompass broader security implications for browser extension ecosystems and user trust models. Attackers could potentially create extensions that appear legitimate while simultaneously executing malicious code, effectively bypassing traditional browser security measures that rely on visual verification. This capability particularly threatens users who regularly interact with browser extensions, as the attack requires only specific UI gestures rather than complex exploit chains. The vulnerability creates an environment where user confidence in browser security boundaries can be undermined, potentially leading to credential theft, data exfiltration, or other malicious activities that leverage the trust users place in their browser interface.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-0451 should prioritize immediate browser updates to versions 133.0.6943.53 or later, where the underlying implementation gaps have been addressed through enhanced UI validation and improved isolation mechanisms. Organizations should also implement comprehensive extension review processes that include visual interface analysis, particularly for extensions handling sensitive user data or performing privileged operations. Security teams should monitor for unusual extension behavior patterns and establish user education programs that emphasize the importance of verifying extension permissions and sources before installation. The remediation approach aligns with ATT&CK framework techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access, suggesting that defensive measures should include monitoring for suspicious UI manipulation patterns and implementing strict extension permission controls to prevent unauthorized interface modifications.
This vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining robust security boundaries within browser extension frameworks, where the separation between legitimate user interface elements and potentially malicious code execution must remain intact. The attack vector's reliance on specific UI gestures indicates that the exploitation requires social engineering components, making user awareness training essential alongside technical mitigations. The fix implemented in Chrome 133.0.6943.53 likely includes enhanced validation of extension UI components and stricter enforcement of interface isolation principles, addressing fundamental architectural weaknesses that allowed the spoofing attack to succeed. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader browser security assessments, particularly focusing on the intersection of user interface design and security controls in modern web browsers.