CVE-2008-3171 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Apple Safari sends Referer headers containing https URLs to different https web sites, which allows remote attackers to obtain potentially sensitive information by reading Referer log data.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-3171 represents a significant information disclosure issue within Apple Safari web browser implementations. This flaw manifests when the browser sends referer headers containing https URLs to different https websites, creating an unintended data leakage channel that can expose sensitive information to remote attackers. The vulnerability specifically affects how Safari handles cross-site navigation within secure contexts, where the browser's referer header mechanism fails to properly sanitize or restrict the information transmitted during secure communications.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from Safari's handling of HTTP referer headers in secure contexts. When users navigate from one https website to another, the browser includes the full URL of the originating page in the referer header, even when that originating page contains sensitive information. This behavior violates fundamental security principles of information flow control and can expose users to various forms of tracking and data leakage. The flaw operates at the application layer of the network stack, specifically within the HTTP protocol implementation of the Safari browser, and represents a violation of the principle of least privilege in information sharing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass privacy violations and potential tracking capabilities for malicious actors. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by monitoring referer log data on web servers to reconstruct user navigation patterns and potentially access sensitive information that was previously protected by the secure https protocol. This creates a scenario where even encrypted communications can be compromised through indirect means, undermining the security assurances provided by https encryption. The vulnerability particularly affects users who browse multiple secure websites and whose navigation patterns might reveal sensitive personal or business information through the referer header data.
Security professionals should note this vulnerability's alignment with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and its relationship to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers credential access through various means. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign browser features can become security risks when not properly implemented with security considerations in mind. Organizations should implement mitigations including server-side referer header filtering, proper access controls on log data, and browser configuration policies that limit referer header transmission. Additionally, users should be educated about the potential risks of cross-site navigation and the importance of understanding how their browsers handle sensitive information. The vulnerability highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of browser implementations and the importance of maintaining up-to-date software to protect against known security flaws.