CVE-2018-6176 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2018-6176, a vulnerability in Google Chrome prior to 68.0.3440.75 allowing remote attackers to escalate privileges via a crafted Chrome Extension. Find out how to mitigate and prevent this security risk.
Google Chrome prior to 68.0.3440.75 allows a remote attacker to escalate privileges through a crafted Chrome Extension.
Understanding CVE-2018-6176
The vulnerability in Google Chrome allowed privilege escalation through compromised renderer processes.
What is CVE-2018-6176?
The lack of sufficient enforcement of file types in the Extensions API in Google Chrome versions prior to 68.0.3440.75 enabled a remote attacker to escalate privileges using a carefully created Chrome Extension.
The Impact of CVE-2018-6176
This vulnerability allowed attackers to gain elevated privileges on compromised systems, posing a significant security risk.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-6176
Google Chrome's vulnerability details and affected systems.
Vulnerability Description
Insufficient enforcement of file types in the Extensions API in Google Chrome versions prior to 68.0.3440.75 allowed a remote attacker to escalate privileges through a crafted Chrome Extension.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Chrome
- Vendor: Google
- Versions Affected: < 68.0.3440.75
Exploitation Mechanism
Attackers could exploit compromised renderer processes to escalate privileges using a carefully crafted Chrome Extension.
Mitigation and Prevention
Steps to mitigate and prevent the CVE-2018-6176 vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Google Chrome to version 68.0.3440.75 or later.
- Be cautious when installing Chrome Extensions from untrusted sources.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update Chrome and all installed extensions.
- Implement a least privilege policy for extension permissions.
Patching and Updates
- Google released a stable channel update addressing this vulnerability.