CVE-2005-2272 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Safari version 2.0 (412) does not clearly associate a Javascript dialog box with the web page that generated it, which allows remote attackers to spoof a dialog box from a trusted site and facilitates phishing attacks, aka the "Dialog Origin Spoofing Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/14/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-2272 represents a critical security flaw in Apple Safari version 2.0 build 412 that fundamentally undermines user trust and browser security mechanisms. This issue stems from Safari's improper handling of JavaScript dialog boxes, specifically failing to establish clear visual or programmatic associations between dialog elements and their originating web pages. The flaw creates a situation where malicious actors can exploit the browser's dialog box presentation logic to deceive users into believing that fraudulent dialog boxes originate from legitimate, trusted websites rather than the actual malicious sources.
The technical nature of this vulnerability directly relates to the browser's user interface design and security model implementation. When JavaScript dialog boxes appear in Safari, the browser fails to properly display or associate the dialog with the specific domain or origin that initiated it. This creates an opportunity for attackers to craft phishing attacks where they can generate dialog boxes that appear to come from trusted domains such as banks, social media platforms, or other legitimate services. The vulnerability essentially breaks the principle of least privilege and user verification that should normally protect against social engineering attacks, as users cannot easily distinguish between genuine browser-generated warnings and maliciously crafted deceptive dialogs.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability significantly increases the risk of successful phishing campaigns targeting Safari users. Attackers can exploit this flaw to create convincing fake login prompts, security warnings, or system alerts that appear to originate from trusted websites, potentially tricking users into revealing sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, or personal identification details. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the user interface level, making it difficult for users to recognize the deception without technical knowledge. This type of attack falls under the broader category of user interface deception attacks that have been documented in various security frameworks and represents a classic example of how browser security can be compromised through seemingly minor implementation flaws.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-611 (Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference) and CWE-352 (Cross-Site Request Forgery) in terms of how it enables unauthorized actions through deceptive interfaces, though it specifically addresses the dialog box origin verification mechanism. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing) and T1059 (Command and Scripting Interpreter) as it enables attackers to craft more convincing phishing campaigns and potentially execute malicious scripts through deceptive dialog boxes. The attack vector leverages the trust users place in browser dialog boxes, which are typically expected to originate from the same domain as the page content, making this a particularly effective social engineering tool.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require both immediate browser updates and user education approaches. The primary solution involves updating Safari to versions that properly implement dialog box origin verification and ensure that all JavaScript dialog boxes clearly display their source domain information. Users should be educated about the importance of verifying the actual URL in the browser address bar before responding to any security warnings or login prompts, even when they appear to be generated by the browser itself. Additionally, browser security policies should include mechanisms to prevent unauthorized domain spoofing in dialog box presentations, and users should be trained to recognize suspicious dialog box behavior that does not match the expected browser interface patterns. Organizations should implement security awareness programs that specifically address the risks associated with browser-based phishing attacks and the importance of verifying dialog box origins through multiple verification methods.