CVE-2024-3845 is a low severity vulnerability found in Google Chrome browsers prior to version 124..6367.60. It is related to an inappropriate implementation in the networking component of the browser, potentially allowing a remote attacker to bypass the standard mixed content policy via a carefully crafted HTML page.

Mixed content in web applications is a significant concern where sensitive data is inadvertently loaded over unsecured HTTP connections. This can lead to various security-related issues, such as man-in-the-middle (MITM) attacks, as sensitive data is at risk of being intercepted by malicious parties. Therefore, understanding this vulnerability and its implications are important for users and web developers alike.

In this long read post, we will go through an in-depth analysis of CVE-2024-3845, discussing its implementation, exploit details, and potential consequences. We will also provide code snippets and links to original references for a better understanding of the vulnerability.

Google Chrome CVE-2024-3845 details: https://chromium.googlesource.com/chromium/src/+/HEAD/docs/security/bugs.md

Official Chromium security homepage: https://www.chromium.org/Home/chromium-security

Mixed content information and guidelines: https://developers.google.com/web/fundamentals/security/prevent-mixed-content/what-is-mixed-content

Exploit Details

Google Chrome implements a strict mixed content policy to avoid the potential risks associated with loading sensitive data over an unencrypted connection. However, it has been discovered that a remote attacker can take advantage of a vulnerability in Google Chrome's network implementation for versions prior to 124..6367.60 to bypass this policy.

A remote attacker can craft an HTML page designed to trigger this vulnerability, allowing them to bypass the mixed content policy and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. Below is a sample code snippet demonstrating the triggering of CVE-2024-3845:

<!-- Basic crafted HTML page -->

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>Exploit CVE-2024-3845</title>
</head>
<body>
  <h1>Triggering Vulnerability</h1>
  <script>
  // Sample JavaScript code snippet exploiting the vulnerability

  function triggerVulnerability() {
    // Mixed content policy bypass code here
  }

  // Trigger the vulnerability
  triggerVulnerability();

  </script>
</body>
</html>

It should be noted that this sample code snippet is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to be used for malicious purposes. The actual bypass method has been omitted to prevent its misuse.

Potential Consequences

Although the severity of CVE-2024-3845 is rated as "Low" by Chromium security, exploiting this vulnerability can still have negative consequences for users, and web developers should always be diligent about mixed content.

Some potential consequences of exploiting this vulnerability include

1. Unauthorized access to sensitive data over unsecured HTTP connections, resulting in risks such as MITM attacks and data interception.
2. Eroded user trust in your web application, as users may become aware of mixed content warnings and be less inclined to continue using your website or app.
3. Potential violation of various regulatory and legal requirements, such as GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) or CCPA (California Consumer Privacy Act), which can result in fines or other penalties.

Safeguards and Mitigation Strategies

To protect against CVE-2024-3845, Google Chrome users are advised to update their browsers to version 124..6367.60 or later immediately. Additionally, web developers can further safeguard against mixed content risks by following best practices outlined in various resources, such as:

1. Ensuring that all resources are loaded over secure HTTPS connections and redirecting users who attempt to access content over HTTP to their HTTPS counterparts.
2. Implementing Content Security Policy (CSP) headers to enforce strict restrictions on mixed content and only allowing content from trusted sources.
3. Applying security headers, such as Strict-Transport-Security, to enforce HTTPS-only connections and prevent traffic from accidentally falling back to HTTP.

Conclusion

In conclusion, CVE-2024-3845 is a low severity vulnerability related to Google Chrome's network implementation for versions prior to 124..6367.60. Through a carefully crafted HTML page, a remote attacker can potentially bypass the mixed content policy, making sensitive data at risk of being intercepted. By understanding this vulnerability and following best security practices, web developers can ensure that their applications are protected against mixed content risks and provide a secure user experience.

Timeline

Published on: 04/17/2024 08:15:10 UTC
Last modified on: 07/03/2024 02:06:42 UTC