CVE-2019-5801 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Google Chrome on iOS prior to version 73.0.3683.75 had a vulnerability that allowed a remote attacker to deceive users by omitting certain URLs in the Omnibox.

Understanding CVE-2019-5801

Before version 73.0.3683.75, a flaw in Google Chrome on iOS allowed for domain spoofing through a specially crafted HTML page.

What is CVE-2019-5801?

The vulnerability in Google Chrome on iOS prior to version 73.0.3683.75 enabled a remote attacker to mislead users into believing they were visiting a specific domain by manipulating the Omnibox.

The Impact of CVE-2019-5801

This vulnerability could have been exploited by a remote attacker to conduct domain spoofing attacks, potentially leading to phishing or other malicious activities.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-5801

Google Chrome on iOS prior to version 73.0.3683.75 was susceptible to a flaw that allowed for domain spoofing through the manipulation of URLs in the Omnibox.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Google Chrome on iOS incorrectly omitted certain URLs in the Omnibox, enabling a remote attacker to deceive users into believing they were accessing a specific domain using a specially crafted HTML page.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Chrome
Vendor: Google
Versions Affected: prior to 73.0.3683.75

Exploitation Mechanism

The flaw in Google Chrome on iOS could be exploited by a remote attacker to perform domain spoofing by leveraging a crafted HTML page.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2019-5801, users and organizations should take the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Google Chrome on iOS to version 73.0.3683.75 or later to mitigate the vulnerability.
Exercise caution while browsing and avoid clicking on suspicious links or visiting unfamiliar websites.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to ensure the latest security patches are in place.
Educate users about phishing techniques and the importance of verifying website URLs before entering sensitive information.

Patching and Updates

Google released a fix in version 73.0.3683.75 to address the vulnerability in Chrome on iOS.