CVE-2023-36026 - Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) Spoofing Vulnerability: Deep Dive, Code Snippet, Exploit Details, and References

Microsoft Edge, a popular web browser built on Chromium, has recently been discovered to have a spoofing vulnerability. This vulnerability, identified as CVE-2023-36026, could allow attackers to spoof legitimate websites and potentially cause users to give away valuable information like login credentials or financial data. Considering the widespread use of Microsoft Edge, it's crucial that users understand this vulnerability and take necessary precautions to remain secure.

This post will provide an in-depth look at this vulnerability by examining code snippets, exploring the exploit details, providing links to original references, and shedding light on potential security measures that can be taken.

Understanding the Vulnerability

Microsoft Edge, like Google Chrome, is a Chromium-based browser. This means it shares much of the codebase and some vulnerabilities with Chrome. The spoofing vulnerability in Microsoft Edge (CVE-2023-36026) essentially allows malicious actors to craft a website that appears legitimate but is actually an attack vector. This can lead to phishing attacks and other security breaches.

This vulnerability exists in Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based) versions before 95..102.30.

An example of a vulnerable domain in Microsoft Edge is

https://github.com.test.example.com

As evident in this example, the "github.com" portion of the URL is displayed in the browser address bar, causing users to believe they're visiting a legitimate GitHub website. However, the true domain being visited is "test.example.com," which could be controlled by a malicious actor.

Here's a simplified code snippet that demonstrates how this URL spoofing could be accomplished

<html>
<head>
  <title>GitHub - Spoofed Page</title>
  <script src="https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/3.5.1/jquery.min.js"></script>;
</head>
<body>
  <script>
    $(window).on("beforeunload", function() {
      history.pushState("", "", "//github.com.example.com");
    });
  </script>
  <!-- Content meant to mimic GitHub UI and behavior -->
</body>
</html>

In this example, JavaScript's history.pushState() function is used to manipulate the address bar, giving the appearance of a legitimate website.

Exploit Details

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by enticing users to visit a malicious website that mimics the appearance and behavior of a legitimate site. Once users are on the malicious website, they might be tricked into providing sensitive information such as login credentials, social security numbers, or bank details. It's important to note that up-to-date antivirus software may not protect against this type of vulnerability since it relies primarily on social engineering, not malicious code execution.

For further information on the CVE-2023-36026 vulnerability, follow the links below

1. CVE-2023-36026 - NIST National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2. Microsoft Security Response Center (MSRC)
3. Microsoft Advisory - CVE-2023-36026
4. Chromium Security Issues - Chrome Project

To protect against this type of spoofing vulnerability, users are encouraged to

1. Always update their browser to the latest version. Microsoft Edge users may refer to the official documentation on updating Microsoft Edge.
2. Double-check the legitimacy of websites by validating security certificates and thoroughly reviewing the URL in the address bar.

In conclusion, while the CVE-2023-36026 vulnerability poses a significant security risk to Microsoft Edge users, by staying informed and taking appropriate precautions, it's possible to remain secure against these types of attacks.

Timeline

Published on: 11/16/2023 20:15:28 UTC
Last modified on: 11/23/2023 03:32:39 UTC