CVE-2018-6091 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Google Chrome prior to version 66.0.3359.117 allowed Service Workers to intercept requests made by <embed> or <object> tags in the Fetch API, potentially leading to cross-origin data leakage.

Understanding CVE-2018-6091

This CVE entry highlights a vulnerability in Google Chrome that could be exploited by a remote attacker to leak cross-origin data.

What is CVE-2018-6091?

Service Workers in Google Chrome, before version 66.0.3359.117, had the ability to intercept requests initiated by <embed> or <object> tags in the Fetch API. This flaw could be abused by a malicious actor to extract cross-origin data through a specially crafted HTML page.

The Impact of CVE-2018-6091

The vulnerability could allow a remote attacker to potentially leak sensitive cross-origin data by manipulating Service Workers in Google Chrome versions prior to 66.0.3359.117.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6091

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE entry.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Google Chrome allowed Service Workers to intercept requests from specific HTML tags, enabling potential data leakage across origins.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Chrome
Vendor: Google
Affected Version: < 66.0.3359.117

Exploitation Mechanism

The flaw could be exploited by a remote attacker through a carefully crafted HTML page to trigger the interception of requests by Service Workers.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protective measures and actions to mitigate the impact of CVE-2018-6091.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Google Chrome to version 66.0.3359.117 or newer to address the vulnerability.
Avoid visiting untrusted websites or clicking on suspicious links to minimize the risk of exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update browsers and software to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement content security policies to restrict the execution of scripts and plugins from untrusted sources.

Patching and Updates

Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by Google Chrome to safeguard against potential exploits.