CVE-2023-7281
📋 TL;DR
This vulnerability allows attackers to create deceptive UI elements that appear legitimate but are actually malicious. It affects users of Google Chrome versions before 119.0.6045.105 who visit specially crafted web pages.
💻 Affected Systems
- Google Chrome
- Chromium-based browsers
📦 What is this software?
Chrome by Google
Google Chrome is the world's most popular web browser, used by over 3 billion users globally across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS platforms. As a Chromium-based browser developed by Google, Chrome dominates the browser market with approximately 65% market share, making it a critical compon...
Learn more about Chrome →⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Users could be tricked into entering sensitive information into fake login forms, clicking malicious buttons disguised as legitimate controls, or performing unintended actions due to UI deception.
Likely Case
Phishing attacks where attackers create convincing fake UI elements to steal credentials or trick users into downloading malware.
If Mitigated
Users who verify URLs and are cautious about unexpected UI elements would be less likely to fall victim, though the deception could still be convincing.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction (visiting a malicious page) but no authentication. The technical barrier is low once the crafted HTML page is created.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 119.0.6045.105
Vendor Advisory: https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2023/10/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_31.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Chrome. 2. Click the three-dot menu. 3. Go to Help > About Google Chrome. 4. Chrome will automatically check for and apply updates. 5. Restart Chrome when prompted.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable JavaScript
allPrevents the crafted HTML from executing malicious compositing behavior
chrome://settings/content/javascript
Use Site Isolation
allLimits the impact of UI spoofing by isolating sites from each other
chrome://flags/#enable-site-per-process (enable)
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Use alternative browsers until patching is possible
- Implement web filtering to block known malicious sites
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Chrome version in chrome://settings/helpCheck Version:
google-chrome --version (Linux/Mac) or check in Chrome settingsVerify Fix Applied:
Confirm version is 119.0.6045.105 or later📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual user reports of deceptive UI elements
- Multiple failed login attempts from legitimate-looking interfaces
Network Indicators:
- Traffic to domains hosting crafted HTML pages with unusual compositing behavior
SIEM Query:
source="chrome" AND (event="security_ui_spoofing" OR message="deceptive_ui")