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November 19, 2009, 12:52PM
Microsoft Finds Security Flaw in Google Chrome Frame
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by Ryan Naraine
Back in September, when Google launched the Google Chrome Frame plug-in for Internet Explorer users, Microsoft immediately warned that the move would increase the attack surface and make IE users less secure.
Now comes word that a security researcher in the Microsoft Vulnerability Research (MSVR) has discovered a "high risk" security vulnerability that could allow an attacker to bypass cross-origin protections.
[ ALSO SEE: Inside the Google Chrome OS Security Model ]
Here's the explanation from Google's Mark Larson:
- Severity: High. An attacker could have bypassed cross-origin protections. Although important, "High" severity issues do not permit persistent malware to infect a user's machine. We're unaware of any exploitation of this issue.
The search technology company has shipped a new version of the Google Chrome Frame (version 4.0.245.1) with a patch for the vulnerability.
The plug-in update also fixes several bugs:
* Network requests fail randomly.
* Fix issues with CFInstall.js to better detect compatible OS and browser versions, allow users to cancel the installation frame, and not cache the isAvailable result.
* Don't use Google Chrome Frame for frames or iframes.
* Follow redirects properly.
* IE8 freezing intermittently.
* Remove data directories on uninstall.
"All users should be updated automatically," Larson said.
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Comments
I suppose it's possible that some of the lesser bugs are also in Chrome but not yet updated because they're low-priority
I wonder how many people Microsoft have had working full time to try and discredit Chrome Frame since it was released.
And how many could have been fixing IE bugs instead.
The MSVR team has been in place since 2008 (announced at Black Hat) and I'm sure they've found boatloads of vulns in other third-party software. We only know about this one because MSVR was credited in the Google bulletin.
_r
@Anonymous:8:06 am
If they are in the research group, then they are not IE developers. A better objection would be that they could have been looking for vulnerabilities within IE8 itself, but one could easily argue that they are by exploring the Google Frame, which is intended to be a major part of IE.
Chances are that they are doing the research to discredit Google Frame (and therefore, Google), but by finding one, they do prove that is was worthwhile.
I think the MSVR and the SWIAT (Secure Windows Initiative Attack Team) are separate entities with separate missions. The SWIAT (which may have a different name now) guys focus on attacks on Windows and other MSFT products, and the MSVR is looking for vulnerabilities in 3rd party software. But I doubt the MSVR's reason for being is to discredit those vendors. MSFT has spent the last 10 years on the other end of that equation and I'd guess their main interest is in making the software that runs on Windows machines safer, because they know that Windows users tend to put all of the blame for security problems on MSFT, regardless of which software has the problem.
"We're unaware of any exploitation of this issue."
We're also unaware of anyone actually using Chrome Frame.
Finding vulnerabilities isn't so much of an issue as having the vendor patch them quickly. This has already been patched by Google. I remember the days when Internet Explorer went unpatched for what like 2 years or 4 years at a time. I just hope no one thinks that Microsoft is proving anything by finding software vulnerabilities in Chrome Frame. Vulnerabilities will always exist - responsible vendors who patch quickly, those are the rarity.
It's Mark Larson, not Matt Larson.
lol, IE is a virus/malware/adware sponge. MS forces their .net plugin into firefox that was actually difficult to disable at first, turning firefox into the same virus/malware/adware sponge. Then they find 1 problem with google and start making some noise. hahahaha
Google has just let loose the via Dev channel an updated build of its fast-paced browser, Chrome. According to its makers, Chrome 4.0.206.1, which can be downloaded from this page, features... for more visit:
http://www.techarena.in/download/chrome/google-chrome.htm
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