CVE-2021-38020 : What You Need to Know
Discover the details of CVE-2021-38020, a security flaw in Google Chrome for Android allowing URL bar content manipulation. Learn about the impact, affected versions, and mitigation steps.
This article discusses a security vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-38020 in Google Chrome. The vulnerability existed in the contacts picker feature of Chrome on Android versions prior to 96.0.4664.45. An attacker could exploit this flaw to manipulate the URL bar content through a malicious HTML page.
Understanding CVE-2021-38020
This section delves into the impact and technical aspects of the CVE-2021-38020 vulnerability.
What is CVE-2021-38020?
The vulnerability involves insufficient policy enforcement in Chrome's contacts picker feature on Android devices before version 96.0.4664.45. It could be leveraged by a remote attacker to spoof the URL bar content.
The Impact of CVE-2021-38020
The security flaw allowed threat actors to manipulate the Omnibox or URL bar contents, potentially leading to spoofing attacks and phishing attempts.
Technical Details of CVE-2021-38020
Let's explore the technical aspects of this vulnerability in detail.
Vulnerability Description
The security issue stemmed from the lack of proper policy enforcement in the contacts picker functionality of Google Chrome on Android.
Affected Systems and Versions
Google Chrome versions earlier than 96.0.4664.45 running on Android devices were vulnerable to this exploit.
Exploitation Mechanism
By crafting a malicious HTML page, a remote attacker could exploit this vulnerability to spoof the contents of the URL bar in Chrome on Android.
Mitigation and Prevention
Here are some crucial steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-38020.
Immediate Steps to Take
Users should update their Chrome browser on Android to version 96.0.4664.45 or newer to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.
Long-Term Security Practices
Practicing safe browsing habits and being cautious while interacting with unfamiliar websites can help mitigate the risks of similar security threats.
Patching and Updates
Regularly installing security patches and updates for Google Chrome can ensure that known vulnerabilities are addressed promptly.