CVE-2008-2714 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Opera before 9.26 allows remote attackers to misrepresent web page addresses using "certain characters" that "cause the page address text to be misplaced."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/11/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-2714 represents a significant security flaw in Opera web browsers prior to version 9.26 that enables malicious actors to exploit character handling mechanisms to deceive users about the true address of web pages. This issue falls under the category of user interface deception attacks where the browser's rendering of URL addresses becomes corrupted through specific character sequences, creating a misleading presentation that can be exploited for phishing and social engineering attacks. The vulnerability specifically targets the browser's address bar display functionality and demonstrates how seemingly innocuous character processing can lead to dangerous security implications. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate the visual representation of web addresses in a way that makes it appear as though they are visiting legitimate websites when in fact they are interacting with malicious content.
This vulnerability operates through the manipulation of certain characters that cause the browser to misinterpret and incorrectly display URL components within the address bar. The technical implementation involves how Opera handles character encoding and rendering of special characters in web addresses, particularly those that might be interpreted as URL separators or path delimiters. When these specific character sequences are encountered in a web page's URL, the browser's internal parsing and display mechanisms fail to properly sanitize or render the address, resulting in a visual representation that differs from the actual web address. The flaw likely stems from inadequate input validation and character set handling within the browser's URL parsing engine, which fails to properly distinguish between legitimate URL components and potentially malicious character sequences that could alter the visual presentation of the address bar.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple visual deception to create substantial risks for user security and trust. Users who rely on address bar verification to confirm website legitimacy may be misled into believing they are visiting trusted domains when they are actually interacting with malicious sites. This creates ideal conditions for phishing attacks where attackers can craft URLs that appear legitimate but direct users to harmful destinations. The vulnerability can be exploited across various web applications and services, making it particularly dangerous as it affects the fundamental security mechanism that users depend upon for website verification. Security researchers have noted that such address bar spoofing vulnerabilities are particularly concerning because they directly undermine user confidence in the browser's security warnings and can bypass traditional security controls that rely on address bar validation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate browser updates to version 9.26 or later, where Opera implemented proper character handling and URL display validation. System administrators should ensure all Opera installations are updated to the patched versions and consider implementing additional security measures such as URL filtering and user education about the importance of verifying actual website addresses rather than relying solely on visual cues. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-184, which addresses incomplete blacklist validation, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol: DNS, as it exploits protocol handling mechanisms to create deceptive user experiences. Organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training to help users recognize potential address bar manipulation and understand the importance of verifying certificate information and actual website content rather than relying purely on address bar appearance.