Architectural Limitations of Browser DevTools in Debugging Malicious Extensions
Despite the expanding use of browser extensions, it is impossible for browser vendors and businesses to debug extensions with existing Browser DevTools. Existing DevTools were designed to inspect web pages, and are unable to capture complex and dynamic extension behaviors at runtime.
SquareX’s Extension Analysis Framework enables enterprises to assess an extension's security risk with metadata analysis, advanced static code analysis and dynamic analysis.
Get A Free Enterprise-Wide Extension Audit
SquareX offers a free enterprise-wide extension audit. The audit involves conducting an extensive audit of all extensions installed across the organization using all three components of the SquareX Extension Analysis Framework.
Within 24 hours, enterprises can get a full analysis of their organization’s extension risk posture, including a risk score for every extension installed.
The SquareX Extension Analysis Framework
SquareX's proprietary Extension Analysis Framework takes a 3-layer approach to extension analysis — Metadata Analysis, Advanced Static Code Analysis and Dynamic Analysis:
Metadata Analysis
Metadata analysis involves assigning a risk score to an
extension based on all publicly available data, including:
- Store Information - known malicious extension ID, update history, verification status.
- Social Metrics - total downloads, ratings & review volume, review authenticity, review sentiment analysis.
- Developer Reputation - verification status, affiliated organization(s), publishing history.
- Permissions - MV3 compliance, API permissions, host permissions, permission risk classification.
Advanced Static Code Analysis
SquareX's proprietary advanced static code analyzer is trained
specifically to analyze extension code, including all files,
functions, API calls and variables to identify security
vulnerabilities and secret leakage. This includes identifying:
- Obfuscated code
- Usage of libraries with known CVEs
- Hardcoded IOCs & authentication components
- Insecure API usages & anti-patterns
- Sensitive data usage
Code Delta Analysis
Every time there is an update, SquareX automatically analyzes
the extension's new code to highlight key changes to protect
users from malicious updates from trusted extensions.
Dynamic Analysis
SquareX's Extension Monitoring Sandbox simulates different user
personas with AI agents and monitors each extension's behavior
at runtime, including network requests, API calls and DOM
interactions for malicious behavior:
- Extension Monitoring Sandbox: Proprietary modified browser that allows SquareX's extension to monitor all extension behavior at runtime
- Agentic User Simulation: Simulation of user persona & workflows with Browser AI Agents to observe user action triggered extension behavior
The SquareX Solution
SquareX's extension turns any browser on any device into an enterprise-grade secure browser. SquareX is the only solution that combines all three key components of browser security in a single platform:
- Browser Detection and Response to detect & mitigate web attacks including identity attacks, malicious extensions advanced spearphishing attacks and malicious files
- Enterprise browser to provide secure access to enterprise apps including VDI reduction, BYOD, 3rd party contractors and remote workers
- Browser DLP including GenAI DLP, clipboard DLP, file DLP, insider attacks and data exfiltration attacks
The lightweight browser extension that is compatible with all major popular browsers including Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox and can be easily deployed across both managed and unmanaged devices.