CVE-2017-5096 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

CVE-2017-5096 was published on October 27, 2017, and affects Google Chrome prior to version 60.0.3112.78 for Android. The vulnerability involves insufficient policy enforcement during navigation between different schemes, allowing a remote attacker to perform cross-origin content download.

Understanding CVE-2017-5096

Before diving into the technical details, it's essential to understand the nature and impact of CVE-2017-5096.

What is CVE-2017-5096?

CVE-2017-5096 is a security vulnerability in Google Chrome for Android that enables a remote attacker to execute cross-origin content download by exploiting a lack of proper policy enforcement.

The Impact of CVE-2017-5096

The vulnerability in Google Chrome for Android could be exploited by a remote attacker to carry out cross-origin content download using a specially crafted HTML page, particularly in relation to intents.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-5096

Let's delve into the technical aspects of CVE-2017-5096 to understand its implications and how it can be mitigated.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from insufficient policy enforcement while navigating between different schemes in Google Chrome prior to version 60.0.3112.78 for Android, allowing the attacker to perform cross-origin content download.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Google Chrome prior to 60.0.3112.78 for Android
Version: Google Chrome prior to 60.0.3112.78 for Android

Exploitation Mechanism

The attacker can exploit this vulnerability by using a specially crafted HTML page to trigger cross-origin content download, specifically in relation to intents.

Mitigation and Prevention

To safeguard systems from CVE-2017-5096, certain immediate steps and long-term security practices should be implemented.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Google Chrome to version 60.0.3112.78 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid clicking on suspicious links or visiting untrusted websites to minimize the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit the impact of potential attacks.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by Google Chrome to address CVE-2017-5096 and other security vulnerabilities.