In the digital world, security threats pose a significant risk to user privacy and the integrity of applications. Google Chrome on Android is no exception, and recent findings have unveiled a weakness in its mobile application. The vulnerability, identified as CVE-2022-3447, affects Custom Tabs in Google Chrome on Android, allowing a remote attacker to spoof the contents of the Omnibox - the URL bar that is displayed at the top of the browser.

Google Chrome Versions Affected

This vulnerability affects Google Chrome on Android versions prior to 106..5249.119.

Vulnerability Description

An inappropriate implementation in Custom Tabs can lead to a remote attacker creating a crafted HTML page to spoof the contents of the Omnibox. This means that an attacker could potentially deceive a user into thinking they are on a legitimate website when, in fact, they are on a malicious site designed to steal sensitive information or compromise the device.

Exploit Details

In order to exploit this vulnerability, an attacker must be able to craft an HTML page and successfully load it in a Custom Tab. This involves creating a web page that manipulates the Custom Tab behavior and effectively alters the Omnibox's contents. Here is a simple code snippet of what this might look like:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>CVE-2022-3447 - Spoofing contents in Custom Tabs</title>
  <script>
    function spoofOmnibox() {
      // Code to trigger Custom Tabs navigation and modify the Omnibox
      ...
    }
  </script>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>CVE-2022-3447 Exploit Page</h1>
  <button onclick="spoofOmnibox()">Click to Spoof Omnibox</button>
</body>
</html>

Once the attacker's crafted HTML page is loaded in a Custom Tab within Google Chrome on Android, it can trigger the JavaScript function that causes the Omnibox to display a URL that is different from the actual source. This could lead to phishing attacks, as users might be deceived into entering sensitive information on the malicious website.

Mitigation and Patch Information

The vulnerability has been addressed in Google Chrome on Android version 106..5249.119 and later. Users are urged to update their Chrome app as soon as possible to ensure they are running the most secure version available. Additionally, users should exercise caution when visiting unknown websites or clicking on suspicious links.

For more information on this vulnerability, please refer to the following sources

1. The CVE entry detailing the vulnerability: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-3447
2. The Chromium Bug Tracker report: https://bugs.chromium.org/p/chromium/issues/detail?id=xxxxx (replace 'xxxxx' with the actual bug ID)
3. Google Chrome Release Blog Post: https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/03/stable-channel-update-for-android.html

Conclusion

The discovery of CVE-2022-3447 highlights the importance of software updates and user vigilance when it comes to online activity. By understanding the nature of this vulnerability and taking the necessary steps to mitigate its risk, users can continue to browse the internet in a safer and more secure environment.

Timeline

Published on: 11/09/2022 19:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 11/11/2022 02:17:00 UTC