CVE-2018-6654 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

The Chrome Grammarly extension, prior to 2018-02-02, has a vulnerability where remote attackers can extract authentication tokens.

Understanding CVE-2018-6654

This CVE refers to a security vulnerability in the Grammarly extension for Chrome that allows attackers to access authentication tokens.

What is CVE-2018-6654?

The vulnerability in the Grammarly extension for Chrome enables remote attackers to extract authentication tokens by sending a specific request to iframe.gr_-ifr.

The Impact of CVE-2018-6654

The exposure of authentication tokens through this vulnerability poses a significant security risk as attackers can potentially access sensitive user information.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-6654

The technical aspects of this CVE include:

Vulnerability Description

The Grammarly extension before 2018-02-02 for Chrome allows remote attackers to discover authentication tokens via an 'action: "user"' request to iframe.gr_-ifr.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Not applicable
Vendor: Not applicable
Version: Not applicable

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers exploit this vulnerability by sending a specific request to iframe.gr_-ifr, enabling them to extract authentication tokens without limitations to a specific website.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2018-6654, consider the following:

Immediate Steps to Take

Disable or uninstall the Grammarly extension until a patch is available.
Regularly monitor for updates and security advisories related to the extension.

Long-Term Security Practices

Use alternative security tools or extensions that do not have known vulnerabilities.
Educate users on the risks associated with browser extensions and the importance of regular security updates.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches or updates provided by Grammarly or Chrome to address the vulnerability and enhance security measures.