CVE-2018-6166 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Google Chrome prior to version 68.0.3440.75 had a vulnerability that allowed remote attackers to perform domain impersonation through IDN homographs in crafted domain names.

Understanding CVE-2018-6166

Before version 68.0.3440.75, Google Chrome had a URL Formatter issue that could lead to domain impersonation by remote attackers.

What is CVE-2018-6166?

Incorrect handling of confusable characters in URL Formatter in Google Chrome prior to 68.0.3440.75
Allowed a remote attacker to perform domain spoofing via IDN homographs through a crafted domain name

The Impact of CVE-2018-6166

Potential for domain impersonation by remote attackers
Exploitation through IDN homographs in maliciously crafted domain names

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6166

Google Chrome vulnerability details

Vulnerability Description

Insufficient policy enforcement in URL Formatter

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Chrome
Vendor: Google
Versions affected: < 68.0.3440.75

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit the vulnerability using IDN homographs in specially crafted domain names

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting against CVE-2018-6166

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Google Chrome to version 68.0.3440.75 or newer
Be cautious of domain names with confusable characters

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update browsers and security software
Educate users on identifying suspicious domain names

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities