CVE-2018-17473 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2018-17473 affecting Google Chrome prior to 70.0.3538.67. Find out how attackers could falsify Omnibox contents and steps to prevent exploitation.
Google Chrome prior to version 70.0.3538.67 incorrectly managed confusable characters in the Omnibox, allowing malicious actors to manipulate the URL bar contents.
Understanding CVE-2018-17473
This CVE entry details a vulnerability in Google Chrome that could be exploited by attackers to falsify the Omnibox contents.
What is CVE-2018-17473?
Prior to version 70.0.3538.67, Google Chrome incorrectly managed confusable characters in the Omnibox, enabling a malicious actor to falsify the Omnibox contents by using a manipulated domain name.
The Impact of CVE-2018-17473
This vulnerability allowed a remote attacker to spoof the contents of the Omnibox (URL bar) via a crafted domain name.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-17473
Google Chrome vulnerability details:
Vulnerability Description
- Incorrect handling of confusable characters in Omnibox
- Allowed a remote attacker to spoof Omnibox contents
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Chrome
- Vendor: Google
- Versions Affected: < 70.0.3538.67
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attackers could manipulate the URL bar contents by using a crafted domain name
Mitigation and Prevention
Steps to address CVE-2018-17473:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Google Chrome to version 70.0.3538.67 or higher
- Be cautious of manipulated domain names in the Omnibox
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update browsers and software to the latest versions
- Educate users on identifying suspicious URLs and domains
Patching and Updates
- Google released a fix in version 70.0.3538.67 to address this vulnerability