CVE-2005-3699 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Opera Web Browser 8.50 and 8.0 through 8.0.2 allows remote attackers to spoof the URL in the status bar via the title in an image in a link to a trusted site within a form to the malicious site.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2005-3699 represents a significant security flaw in Opera Web Browser versions 8.0 through 8.50 that enables malicious actors to perform URL spoofing attacks. This issue specifically targets the browser's status bar URL display mechanism, which is a critical component for user awareness of website authenticity. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated social engineering technique that exploits the trust relationship between users and legitimate websites, creating a dangerous illusion of security that can lead to phishing attacks and credential theft.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves manipulating HTML form elements to display an image with a maliciously crafted title attribute that contains a URL. When users interact with forms containing such links, the browser's status bar displays the URL from the image title rather than the actual page URL, creating a false sense of security. This flaw is particularly insidious because it directly violates the fundamental security principle that users should be able to trust the URL displayed in the browser's status bar to verify site authenticity. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the browser's rendering engine's handling of form elements and URL display logic, making it a classic example of a client-side security bypass.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple deception to enable sophisticated phishing attacks that can bypass user security awareness. Attackers can craft malicious pages that display trusted website URLs in the status bar while actually directing users to malicious sites, making it extremely difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and malicious content. This vulnerability directly violates security standards such as those outlined in CWE-601, which addresses URL redirection and forwarding vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering tactics including phishing. The vulnerability essentially undermines the browser's role as a trusted security boundary, allowing attackers to manipulate user perception of site authenticity and potentially harvest sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate browser updates and patches from Opera, as well as user education regarding the importance of verifying URLs through multiple means rather than relying solely on status bar indicators. Security professionals should implement network-level monitoring to detect suspicious URL patterns and ensure that browsers are kept current with security patches. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to detect and prevent exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and demonstrates how seemingly minor rendering flaws can have significant security implications, particularly when they affect core user trust mechanisms within web browsers.