CVE-2024-11116 - UI Spoofing Vulnerability in Google Chrome Blink Engine (Before 131..6778.69)

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CVE-2024-11116 marks a notable security incident in the web browser world. This vulnerability affected the Blink rendering engine in Google Chrome, specifically those versions before 131..6778.69. Although Google tagged the severity as “Medium,” the flaw could allow a remote attacker to fool users by misrepresenting UI elements, which is known as UI spoofing.

Let’s break down what happened, how attackers could have taken advantage of it, and what you can do to stay safe.

What is CVE-2024-11116?

CVE-2024-11116 is all about a weakness in how Chrome’s Blink engine handled certain HTML pages. The flaw lies in the inappropriate implementation of UI gesture responses, which means Chrome could be tricked into showing fake or misleading user interface elements if you interacted with a specially crafted web page.

In simple terms: If a bad actor convinced you to perform specific clicks or gestures on a malicious website, they could display fake browser dialogs, address bars, or other overlays. These could trick you into entering sensitive data, approving actions, or revealing information.

The Technical Details

This vulnerability was tied to inadequate protections when rendering and updating HTML elements after user gestures. Attackers could manipulate the browser interface to make it appear as if Chrome itself (rather than a website) was presenting information or prompts.

For this attack, the user had to interact with the webpage—usually a click, hover, or keyboard input.

Here’s a simplified example illustrating what an attacker’s HTML page might do

<!-- Example: Overlay fake address bar after a click -->
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
    <style>
        .fake-bar {
            position: fixed;
            top: ;
            left: ;
            width: 100vw;
            height: 40px;
            background: #f5f5f5;
            border-bottom: 1px solid #ccc;
            z-index: 999999;
            font-family: sans-serif;
            display: flex;
            align-items: center;
            padding-left: 15px;
        }
    </style>
</head>
<body>
    <h2>Click anywhere to continue</h2>
    <script>
        document.body.addEventListener('click', () => {
            // Display a fake address bar to spoof Chrome's UI
            const bar = document.createElement('div');
            bar.className = 'fake-bar';
            bar.textContent = 'https://secure-login.com';;
            document.body.appendChild(bar);

            alert('For your security, please re-enter your password.');
        });
    </script>
</body>
</html>

What happens here:

As soon as they do, a fake address bar appears at the top, displaying a misleading URL.

- An alert box pops up, encouraging the user to provide a password—making them think it’s a Chrome system prompt.

How Was It Exploited in the Wild?

No major attacks exploiting CVE-2024-11116 have been reported (as of now). However, the exploit would be feasible on unpatched versions by tricking users with overlays, fake dialogs, or technical lookalikes.

Create overlays that resemble other browser UI elements

All of this happened after the victim interacted with the page. Passive browsing alone would not trigger the exploit.

Official References and Fixes

- Chromium Security Advisories
- National Vulnerability Database (NVD) Entry for CVE-2024-11116
- Chrome Release Notes 131..6778.69

Fix:
Upgrade Chrome to version 131..6778.69 or newer. Google patched the inappropriate UI gesture handling so this spoofing tactic no longer works.

Stay Safe: What You Should Do

1. Update Chrome: Always use the latest version. Go to Settings > About Chrome and check for updates.
2. Be Skeptical of Prompts: If you see unusual dialogs, address bars, or login prompts (especially after clicking somewhere on a page), double-check the actual browser UI and URL.
3. Avoid Clicking Suspicious Links: Don’t engage with suspicious prompts or buttons, especially on websites you don’t trust.
4. Report Suspicious Sites: Use Chrome’s reporting features to flag sites that appear to misuse browser interface elements.

Closing Thoughts

CVE-2024-11116 is an example of how browser vulnerabilities don’t just target code execution or data leaks—they can also manipulate the way things look and feel to users. UI spoofing can set the stage for bigger attacks like phishing or credential theft.

Always keep your browser updated and pay attention to what’s real and what’s a fake overlay. Chrome (and other major browsers) issue frequent updates to fix issues like this.

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Timeline

Published on: 11/12/2024 21:15:11 UTC
Last modified on: 11/13/2024 17:01:16 UTC