CVE-2025-1923 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 03/05/2025
Inappropriate implementation in Permission Prompts in Google Chrome prior to 134.0.6998.35 allowed an attacker who convinced a user to install a malicious extension to perform UI spoofing via a crafted Chrome Extension. (Chromium security severity: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-1923 represents a significant concern in the realm of browser security, specifically within Google Chrome's permission prompt implementation. This flaw exists in versions prior to 134.0.6998.35 and demonstrates how seemingly minor implementation gaps can be exploited to undermine user trust and system integrity. The vulnerability falls under the category of user interface spoofing attacks, where malicious actors manipulate the visual presentation of legitimate browser interfaces to deceive users into making unintended security decisions. The issue stems from Chrome's permission prompt system which is designed to inform users about the capabilities and access rights that extensions request, but fails to properly validate or isolate the visual presentation of these prompts when dealing with malicious extensions.
The technical implementation flaw lies in how Chrome handles the rendering and presentation of permission prompts when a malicious extension is installed and active. When a user installs a crafted extension, the attacker can manipulate the extension's interface elements to create deceptive prompts that appear legitimate while actually performing unauthorized actions. This vulnerability specifically targets the trust model that users place in browser permission prompts, which are expected to provide clear and accurate information about what an extension can access or do. The flaw allows attackers to bypass normal UI validation mechanisms that should prevent extensions from mimicking legitimate browser interfaces, creating a scenario where users cannot distinguish between genuine system prompts and maliciously crafted ones.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple deception, as it enables attackers to perform more sophisticated attacks through social engineering and UI manipulation. An attacker who successfully convinces a user to install a malicious extension can then use this vulnerability to make users believe they are interacting with legitimate browser functionality while actually executing malicious actions. This could include tricking users into granting additional permissions, accessing sensitive data, or performing actions that would normally require explicit user consent. The low severity classification from Chromium security team belies the potential for significant damage through user manipulation, as the vulnerability exploits human psychology rather than pure technical weaknesses, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-1923 should focus on both immediate user protection and long-term system hardening. Users should immediately update to Chrome version 134.0.6998.35 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the UI spoofing vulnerability. System administrators should implement strict extension management policies and educate users about the risks of installing extensions from untrusted sources. The vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) and T1566 (Phishing) techniques, as it enables attackers to create more convincing phishing attempts and command execution scenarios. Organizations should also consider implementing browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary extension capabilities and monitoring for suspicious extension behavior. Security teams should be aware that this vulnerability could be used as a stepping stone for more complex attacks, particularly those involving credential theft or data exfiltration, as the user trust that is undermined by UI spoofing creates opportunities for further exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining robust user interface security controls and demonstrates how even low-severity UI flaws can have significant implications for overall system security posture.