Hackers Using Google Analytics to Bypass Web Security and Steal Credit Cards

Researchers reported on Monday that hackers are now exploiting Google’s Analytics service to stealthily pilfer credit card information from infected e-commerce sites.

According to several independent reports from PerimeterX, Kaspersky, and Sansec, threat actors are now injecting data-stealing code on the compromised websites in combination with tracking code generated by Google Analytics for their own account, letting them exfiltrate payment information entered by users even in conditions where content security policies are enforced for maximum web security.

“Attackers injected malicious code into sites, which collected all the data entered by users and then sent it via Analytics,” Kaspersky said in a report published yesterday. “As a result, the attackers could access the stolen data in their Google Analytics account.”

The cybersecurity firm said it found about two dozen infected websites across Europe and North and South America that specialized in selling digital equipment, cosmetics, food products, and spare parts.

Bypassing Content Security Policy

The attack hinges on the premise that e-commerce websites using Google’s web analytics service for tracking visitors have whitelisted the associated domains in their content security policy (CSP).