CVE-2007-4692 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
The tabbed browsing feature in Apple Safari 3 before Beta Update 3.0.4 on Windows, and Mac OS X 10.4 through 10.4.10, allows remote attackers to spoof HTTP authentication for other sites and possibly conduct phishing attacks by causing an authentication sheet to be displayed for a tab that is not active, which makes it appear as if it is associated with the active tab.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/31/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-4692 represents a significant security flaw in Apple Safari's tabbed browsing implementation that undermines the fundamental trust model of web authentication mechanisms. This issue affects Safari versions prior to Beta Update 3.0.4 on both Windows and Mac OS X platforms, specifically targeting versions 10.4 through 10.4.10 on Mac OS X. The flaw exploits the browser's handling of authentication prompts within a tabbed interface environment, creating a scenario where security warnings and authentication dialogs can be misleadingly associated with one tab while actually originating from another. This misattribution creates a dangerous condition where users may inadvertently provide credentials to malicious sites that appear to be legitimate based on the active tab's URL.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from how Safari manages HTTP authentication prompts within its tabbed browsing architecture. When multiple tabs are open and an authentication request occurs, the browser fails to properly associate the authentication dialog with the correct tab context. This occurs because the authentication sheet displays based on the tab that triggered the authentication request rather than the currently active tab that users are interacting with. The flaw manifests when an inactive tab generates an authentication prompt that appears to be associated with the currently active tab, creating a false visual association that can deceive users into believing they are authenticating to a legitimate website when they are actually providing credentials to a different domain.
From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability creates an ideal environment for sophisticated phishing attacks and credential theft operations. Attackers can leverage this flaw by opening a malicious tab that triggers an authentication prompt, making it appear as if the active tab is requesting credentials from a trusted domain. The deception is particularly effective because users typically trust the URL bar of the active tab and may not notice that the authentication dialog originates from a different tab. This vulnerability directly violates security principle of least privilege and user trust, as it allows attackers to bypass normal authentication security measures that users rely upon for protection against credential theft. The impact extends beyond simple credential theft to potentially enable session hijacking, man-in-the-middle attacks, and other advanced persistent threats that exploit user trust in the browser interface.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with several established frameworks including CWE-352, which addresses Cross-Site Request Forgery vulnerabilities, and CWE-613, which covers inadequate session management. This flaw also maps to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering attacks through phishing, and T1071.004, which involves application layer protocol usage for command and control. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Safari 3.0.4 or later versions that address this tabbed browsing authentication flaw, implementing additional browser security policies, and educating users about the importance of verifying authentication prompts against the actual URL. Network security controls should also be enhanced to monitor for suspicious authentication patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper user interface design in security-sensitive applications and highlights how seemingly minor interface flaws can create substantial security risks in modern web browsers.