Source URL: https://kibty.town/blog/arc/
Source: Hacker News
Title: Gaining access to anyones browser without them even visiting a website
Feedly Summary: Comments
AI Summary and Description: Yes
Summary: The text presents a detailed examination of a security vulnerability found in the Arc browser, specifically related to its integration with Firebase and Firestore for authentication and data storage. The vulnerability allows for unauthorized access to user data and arbitrary code execution through a specific feature called “boosts.” This highlights significant privacy concerns and the need for robust security measures.
Detailed Description:
The content outlines the discovery of a critical vulnerability in the Arc browser, revolving around its use of Firebase for user authentication and Firestore for data management. The analysis reveals how attackers can manipulate user-generated content, potentially causing significant security and privacy breaches. Here are the major points:
– **Arc Browser Overview**: The user starts by exploring the Arc browser and its reliance on the Firebase platform for user account management.
– **Discovery of Vulnerability**:
– The user investigates the backend processes behind the browser, focusing on Firebase and Firestore’s configurations.
– They discover that the application allows querying and updating data without proper authentication checks, especially concerning “boosts”—user-generated alterations to their web browsing experience.
– **Potential Attack Scenario**:
– A step-by-step breakdown of how an attacker can obtain another user’s ID through features like user referrals or shared easels (whiteboards).
– The attacker creates malicious boosts targeting the victim’s browsing session using the compromised creator ID, enabling code execution in the victim’s browser.
– **Privacy Violations**: The analysis includes the revelation that user activities are potentially tracked by the Arc browser in contradiction to their stated privacy policies.
– **Response and Mitigation**:
– Discussion of the timeline for the vulnerability’s disclosure and resolution, including communications with Arc’s team and the payment of a bounty for reporting.
– The text mentions the assignment of a CVE identifier (CVE-2024-45489) for the documented vulnerability, underscoring its gravity.
– **Security Implications**:
– Highlights the risks associated with inadequate security in user-generated content systems.
– Emphasizes the need for stricter data access controls and continuous security assessments in applications using external services for backend functionality.
Overall, this analysis serves as a warning to both users and developers regarding the vulnerabilities that can arise from poor backend integration and insufficient security policies in cloud services. Security professionals should take note of such vulnerabilities to enhance their threat models and improve system defenses.