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CVE-2021-37971: Medium Vulnerability in Google Chrome

A medium-severity vulnerability in Google Chrome prior to version 94.0.4606.54 could allow remote attackers to spoof the Omnibox contents. Organizations should prioritize patching to mitigate this risk.

MEDIUMCVSS 4.3 · Published October 8, 2021

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This vulnerability allows a remote attacker to spoof the contents of the Omnibox (URL bar) in Google Chrome prior to version 94.0.4606.54 via a crafted HTML page. This can lead to phishing attacks where users may be misled into thinking they are visiting a legitimate site.

The CVSS score for this vulnerability is 4.3, which is classified as medium severity. This score indicates a moderate risk to organizations, primarily due to the potential for user deception and the reliance on user interaction for the exploit to be successful.

Risk to organizations includes the possibility of unauthorized access to sensitive information if users are tricked into entering credentials on spoofed pages. Organizations should prioritize patching immediately.

Currently, there is no public exploit confirmed for this vulnerability, and it is not listed in the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog. However, organizations should remain vigilant and ensure their browsers are updated.

Vulnerability Details

The vulnerability in question arises from an incorrect security UI in the Web Browser UI of Google Chrome prior to version 94.0.4606.54. The official CVE description notes that this flaw permits remote attackers to spoof contents displayed in the Omnibox using a specially crafted HTML page.

The CVSS 3.1 score of 4.3 indicates a medium severity level, with a base score reflecting the following characteristics: the attack vector is network-based, the attack complexity is low, and no privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability. User interaction is required, which means the victim must engage with the malicious content.

Technical Analysis

The root cause of this vulnerability is related to the security UI within the browser. Attackers can exploit this flaw by crafting specific HTML pages that, when opened by the user, can manipulate what is displayed in the URL bar, effectively misleading the user into believing they are interacting with a legitimate website.

The attack vector is network-based, meaning an attacker could deploy this exploit via malicious web pages. The complexity of the attack is low, as no special conditions need to be met beyond user interaction.

The vulnerability requires no privileges to exploit, making it more accessible for an attacker. User interaction is necessary, as the user must navigate to a malicious web page for the exploit to take effect.

The potential impacts of this vulnerability include low integrity impact, as the attacker's ability is limited to displaying misleading information rather than altering data. There is no confidentiality or availability impact associated with this flaw.

Risk & Impact Analysis

In terms of real-world deployment risk, this vulnerability poses a medium-level threat. Organizations that rely heavily on web applications must be aware of the potential for phishing attacks that exploit this vulnerability. As the attack requires user interaction, the risk may be mitigated through user education and awareness.

The blast radius of this vulnerability is significant for organizations with a user base that may be susceptible to social engineering attacks. Given the nature of the vulnerability, attackers may leverage it to create convincing phishing attempts, compromising sensitive information.

Organizations should address this vulnerability in their priority patch cycle to ensure all users are protected from potential exploits that could lead to unauthorized access.

Exploitation Status

Signal

Status

Known Exploit

No

Public PoC

No

Actively Exploited

No

Ransomware Use

No

Affected Versions

The affected versions include all Google Chrome versions prior to 94.0.4606.54. Additionally, the vulnerability impacts Fedora 33 and 35, as well as Debian Linux versions 10.0 and 11.0.

Mitigation & Remediation

Organizations should ensure that all users are updated to the latest version of Google Chrome to mitigate this vulnerability. As of now, the recommended version is 94.0.4606.54 or later.

In case patches are unavailable, organizations can consider implementing network controls to block access to potentially malicious sites, as well as educating users on recognizing phishing attempts.

For further insights on security testing, organizations can refer to our penetration testing services to validate their security posture.

Detection Guidance

To detect potential exploitation of this vulnerability, organizations should monitor logs for unusual access patterns, especially those targeting user interfaces. Behavioral anomalies that suggest spoofed navigation should also be flagged.

AppSecure Threat Intelligence Insight

The long-term significance of this vulnerability lies in the evolving tactics of attackers leveraging UI manipulation to deceive users. Monitoring for such trends can provide critical insights for security teams.

This pattern underscores the importance of user education in cybersecurity, emphasizing the need for awareness about potential phishing attempts. Organizations should consider enhancing their security training programs to address such vulnerabilities.

To learn more about web application security, organizations can explore our web application penetration testing guide for best practices.

Additionally, understanding the implications of this vulnerability can help shape an organization's incident response strategy, fostering a proactive approach to cybersecurity.

Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.

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