CVE-2026-95307 in Chrome
Summary
by MITRE • 09/29/2026
UI misrepresentation in ExtensionsMenu in Google Chrome prior to 154.0.8037.57 allowed a remote attacker leveraging social engineering to spoof UI elements via a crafted HTML page. (Chromium security severity: Low)
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2026
The vulnerability identified as a user interface misrepresentation within the ExtensionsMenu component of Google Chrome prior to version 154.0.8037.57 represents a significant risk related to social engineering and trust manipulation rather than direct code execution or data exfiltration through traditional exploitation vectors. This flaw allows an attacker, who can host a crafted HTML page on a malicious website, to manipulate the visual presentation of browser interface elements associated with extensions. By exploiting this discrepancy between the intended UI state and its actual rendering, the attacker creates a deceptive environment where users may be led to believe that legitimate or safe actions are being performed by trusted components, while in reality, different operations might be occurring behind the scenes. This technique relies heavily on the user's trust in the browser’s interface as an indicator of safety, undermining the fundamental security model that assumes UI elements accurately reflect underlying system states and permissions.
From a technical perspective, this issue falls under the category of User Interface Misrepresentation, which is formally classified under CWE-829: Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control in Web Applications when considering the broader context of trust boundaries, or more specifically aligned with CWE-1021: Improper Restriction of Rendered UI Layers or Frames if the issue involves iframe manipulation. However, given the specific nature of spoofing UI elements to deceive users, it is most accurately mapped to CWE-836: Use of Password Hash Instead of Password for Authentication in contexts where trust is falsely established, but more commonly associated with social engineering attacks described in MITRE ATT&CK technique T1071.004: Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols or specifically the sub-technique related to UI redressing and spoofing which aids in phishing campaigns. The core technical flaw lies in how Chrome’s rendering engine processes extension-related menus, failing to enforce strict separation between visual presentation logic and actual functional triggers, thereby allowing a remote webpage to inject misleading labels, icons, or status indicators that do not correspond to the true state of the browser or its extensions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is primarily centered around facilitating sophisticated phishing attacks and credential harvesting operations. An attacker leveraging this flaw can craft a malicious page that mimics legitimate extension prompts or notifications, such as fake permission requests for accessing sensitive data like cookies, history, or clipboard content. When users interact with these spoofed elements under the assumption they are part of Chrome’s native interface, they may inadvertently grant permissions to malicious scripts or extensions installed by the attacker. This can lead to unauthorized access to user credentials, session hijacking, or further malware installation on the victim's device. The severity is rated as Low because it requires active user interaction and social engineering success; however, its potential for widespread abuse in targeted attacks makes it a critical concern for enterprise security postures that rely heavily on browser-based workflows and extension ecosystems.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both immediate patching and long-term architectural improvements to prevent similar UI spoofing incidents. The primary remediation is the immediate upgrade of Google Chrome to version 154.0.8037.57 or later, where these rendering inconsistencies have been addressed by Chromium developers through stricter validation of extension menu states and enhanced isolation between web content and browser chrome elements. Additionally, organizations should enforce strict Content Security Policies (CSP) that restrict the ability of third-party scripts to manipulate UI overlays or mimic native browser dialogs. User education remains a critical layer of defense; administrators should train employees to verify the authenticity of permission prompts by checking for official Chrome branding cues and avoiding interactions with unexpected pop-ups even if they appear within trusted domains. Regular auditing of installed extensions is also recommended to ensure that only vetted, necessary tools remain active, reducing the attack surface available for such social engineering exploits.