Metamask

What This Extension Does

MetaMask is a Chrome extension described as "the world's most trusted crypto wallet". It likely provides users with a secure way to manage their cryptocurrency assets, interact with blockchain-based applications, and perform transactions.

Permissions Explained

Here's an explanation of each permission declared by the extension:

• activeTab: Allows the extension to access the currently active tab in the browser.

+ Standard for extensions that need to interact with web pages.

• alarms: Enables the extension to schedule background tasks or notifications.

+ Unusual, as most extensions don't require this level of system interaction.

• clipboardWrite: Grants permission to write data to the clipboard.

+ Unusual, as most extensions don't need direct access to the clipboard.

• notifications: Allows the extension to display notifications to the user.

+ Standard for extensions that need to inform users about events or updates.

• scripting: Enables the extension to execute scripts in the context of web pages.

+ Standard for extensions that need to interact with web content.

• storage: Grants permission to store data locally on the user's device.

+ Standard for extensions that need to persist data across sessions.

• unlimitedStorage: Allows the extension to store an unlimited amount of data locally.

+ Unusual, as most extensions don't require this level of storage capacity.

• webRequest: Enables the extension to intercept and modify web requests made by the browser.

+ Standard for extensions that need to inspect or manipulate web traffic.

• offscreen: Grants permission to access web pages even when they're not visible on screen.

+ Unusual, as most extensions don't require this level of access.

• identity: Allows the extension to access user identity information (e.g., login credentials).

+ Unusual, as most extensions don't need direct access to user identity data.

• sidePanel: Enables the extension to display a side panel in the browser UI.

+ Standard for extensions that need to provide additional UI elements.

• clipboardRead: Grants permission to read data from the clipboard.

+ Unusual, as most extensions don't need direct access to the clipboard.

• http://*/*, https://*/, and other protocol-specific permissions: Allow the extension to communicate with web servers over specific protocols.

What We Found in the Code

Here's an explanation of each automated flag:

• Makes HTTP requests: This is a normal pattern for extensions that need to interact with web services or APIs.
• Opens WebSocket connections: Similar to making HTTP requests, this is a standard pattern for real-time communication between the extension and web servers.
• Listens to keyboard events: This can be used for shortcuts or other UI-related functionality. It's not inherently unusual, but its presence should be evaluated in context.
• Potential crypto-mining code detected: We found a flag indicating potential crypto-mining activity. However, without further analysis, it's difficult to determine if this is legitimate (e.g., for debugging purposes) or malicious.
• Potential data exfiltration pattern: This flag indicates that the extension may be sending data to external servers. While this can be normal for extensions that need to sync data with web services, it's essential to evaluate the context and ensure that sensitive user data is not being transmitted unnecessarily.

External Connections

The extension communicates with the following domains:

• www.w3.org: A standard domain for web development resources.
• github.com: A common platform for hosting open-source projects.
• eips.ethereum.org, subnets.avax.network, and other blockchain-related domains: These are likely used for interacting with specific blockchain networks or services.
• support.metamask.io: This could be a support server for the extension, handling user inquiries or issues.
• rpc.ankr.com and other API endpoints: These are likely used for interacting with external APIs or services.

Things to Consider

Based on the extension's description and permissions, it appears that MetaMask is designed to provide users with a secure way to manage their cryptocurrency assets. However, some of the permissions declared by the extension seem broader than necessary (e.g., alarms, clipboardWrite, identity). It's essential for users to carefully evaluate the extension's functionality and ensure that it aligns with their needs and expectations.

Additionally, the presence of potential crypto-mining code and data exfiltration patterns warrants further investigation. While these flags may be false positives or legitimate uses of certain coding patterns, they should not be ignored. Users should exercise caution when installing extensions with such flags and consider alternative options if they're unsure about the extension's legitimacy.