CVE-2008-0367 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox 2.0.0.11, 3.0b2, and possibly earlier versions, when prompting for HTTP Basic Authentication, displays the site requesting the authentication after the Realm text, which might make it easier for remote HTTP servers to conduct phishing and spoofing attacks.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2019
This vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox versions 2.0.0.11, 3.0b2, and potentially earlier releases represents a significant security flaw in the browser's authentication prompt mechanism. The issue manifests when the browser displays HTTP Basic Authentication prompts, where the domain name of the requesting server appears immediately after the realm text in the authentication dialog. This design flaw creates an opportunity for malicious actors to exploit user trust and potentially deceive users into providing credentials to unintended servers.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the improper handling of authentication prompt formatting within Firefox's user interface. When a web server requests HTTP Basic Authentication, Firefox presents a dialog box that typically includes the realm text followed by the requesting server's domain name. In affected versions, this presentation allows for potential phishing scenarios where attackers can craft realm text that appears to be from a legitimate source while the actual domain name reveals the true malicious origin. This misrepresentation can trick users into entering their credentials for servers they believe to be trustworthy but are actually controlled by attackers.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability significantly increases the risk of successful phishing attacks against Firefox users. Attackers can exploit this flaw by creating web pages that request authentication with carefully crafted realm text that mimics well-known services or organizations. The presence of the actual requesting domain in the prompt makes it appear more legitimate to users who may not notice the discrepancy between the realm text and the domain name. This vulnerability specifically aligns with attack patterns described in the attack technique category of credential access through social engineering and phishing attacks.
The security implications extend beyond simple phishing scenarios to encompass broader spoofing capabilities that could be leveraged in more sophisticated attack vectors. Security researchers have identified this issue as a form of user interface deception that undermines the fundamental trust model of web authentication. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor UI elements can have significant security consequences when they fail to properly validate or display authentication context information. This flaw particularly affects users who may not be security-aware and could be easily deceived by the presentation of authentication prompts that appear legitimate but actually originate from malicious servers.
This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-346, which addresses "Improper Verification of Source of a Communication Channel," and relates to the broader category of trust relationship violations in web applications. The issue also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers "Phishing," specifically the sub-technique T1566.001 "Phishing: Spearphishing Attachment" and T1566.002 "Phishing: Spearphishing Link," as it enables more effective phishing attacks through manipulation of authentication prompts. Organizations should consider this vulnerability when assessing their web security posture and implementing user education programs focused on authentication prompt verification.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to Firefox versions that have addressed this vulnerability, typically those released after the patch was made available. Users should also exercise heightened caution when encountering authentication prompts, particularly verifying that the domain name in the prompt matches the expected server. Security administrators should implement network monitoring to detect suspicious authentication requests and consider deploying additional security controls such as authentication firewalls or proxy servers that can provide additional layers of authentication verification. Browser security policies should include regular updates and patch management procedures to ensure that such vulnerabilities are promptly addressed.