CVE-2024-8033 Overview
CVE-2024-8033 is a user interface (UI) spoofing vulnerability in the WebApp Installs component of Google Chrome on Windows. The flaw affects Chrome versions prior to 128.0.6613.84 and stems from an inappropriate implementation in the web application installation flow. An attacker who convinces a user to install a malicious web application can leverage a crafted HTML page to misrepresent UI elements. Google classified the underlying Chromium security severity as Low, and the issue is tracked publicly in Chromium Issue Tracker #350256139.
Critical Impact
A remote attacker can perform UI spoofing on Windows Chrome installations, enabling social-engineering attacks that misrepresent the origin or trust context of an installed web application.
Affected Products
- Google Chrome on Windows prior to 128.0.6613.84
- Microsoft Windows platforms running vulnerable Chrome builds
- Any user-installed Progressive Web Apps (PWAs) created through the affected WebApp Installs flow
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-08-21 - Google publishes the Stable Channel Update for Desktop containing the fix
- 2024-08-21 - CVE-2024-8033 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-8033
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability resides in Chrome's WebApp Installs subsystem on Windows. When a user installs a web application, the browser renders UI surfaces that convey origin, permissions, and trust indicators. Chrome's implementation did not adequately constrain how attacker-controlled HTML content participates in these installation UI elements. As a result, a crafted HTML page presented during installation can spoof legitimate UI, misleading the user about the nature or source of the installed application. Because exploitation requires the user to install a malicious application, the attack blends browser-level weakness with social engineering. This class of issue falls under User Interface Confusion and is categorized in NVD with NVD-CWE-noinfo due to limited public technical detail.
Root Cause
The root cause is an inappropriate implementation in the WebApp Installs code path that permits attacker-supplied HTML to influence trust-conveying UI. The affected component fails to enforce a strict separation between browser chrome and web content during the installation ceremony, allowing spoofed indicators to appear authentic to the user.
Attack Vector
Exploitation is network-based and requires user interaction. An attacker hosts a crafted HTML page and lures the target into installing it as a web application. Once installation is initiated, the crafted page manipulates the installation UI to misrepresent the application's identity, origin, or capabilities. No elevated privileges are required, and confidentiality impact is none, but integrity of user-facing information is degraded.
No public proof-of-concept code is available for CVE-2024-8033. Refer to the Chromium Issue Tracker entry once access restrictions are lifted for authoritative technical detail.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-8033
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected Progressive Web App shortcuts or .lnk files created under %LOCALAPPDATA%\Google\Chrome\User Data\Default\Web Applications\
- Chrome installation prompts originating from unfamiliar domains or from pages loaded via redirect chains
- Newly registered WebApp entries in the Windows Start Menu or desktop that mimic legitimate brands
Detection Strategies
- Inventory installed Chrome web applications across managed endpoints and flag installs sourced from domains outside an approved allowlist
- Correlate browser process telemetry with file-system creation events under the Chrome Web Applications directory to identify install activity
- Monitor Chrome version telemetry to identify hosts still running builds prior to 128.0.6613.84
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest endpoint browser and file-system events into a centralized analytics platform to detect anomalous PWA installation patterns
- Alert on user-reported phishing incidents that reference installed applications or unexpected browser UI
- Track Chrome update compliance through enterprise management tooling and escalate hosts pinned to outdated versions
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-8033
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Google Chrome on Windows to version 128.0.6613.84 or later on all managed and unmanaged endpoints
- Verify automatic update policies are enabled and functioning through chrome://settings/help
- Communicate awareness guidance to users about the risks of installing web applications from untrusted sources
Patch Information
Google addressed CVE-2024-8033 in the Chrome Stable channel release 128.0.6613.84 for Windows, published on August 21, 2024. Details are available in the Google Chrome Stable Update advisory. Enterprise administrators should confirm distribution of the updated MSI package through their software deployment tooling.
Workarounds
- Restrict web application installation through Chrome Enterprise policy WebAppInstallForceList and related install controls until patching is complete
- Configure DefaultBrowserSettingEnabled and site isolation policies to reduce exposure from untrusted origins
- Provide targeted user training emphasizing verification of publisher identity before approving any WebApp install prompt
# Example Chrome Enterprise policy (Windows registry) to restrict WebApp installs
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome" /v WebAppInstallForceList /t REG_SZ /d "[]" /f
reg add "HKLM\Software\Policies\Google\Chrome" /v DefaultWebUsbGuardSetting /t REG_DWORD /d 2 /f
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
