CVE-2008-3644 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Apple Safari before 3.2 does not properly prevent caching of form data for form fields that have autocomplete disabled, which allows local users to obtain sensitive information by reading the browser s page cache.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2019
This vulnerability affects Apple Safari web browser versions prior to 3.2 and represents a critical information disclosure issue that exploits improper cache management for form data. The flaw occurs when users interact with web forms that have autocomplete functionality disabled, yet the browser continues to cache sensitive information in its page cache. This behavior creates a security risk where local attackers can potentially access previously submitted form data by examining the browser's cache storage, even when the form fields themselves are configured to prevent automatic completion of sensitive information.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from Safari's inconsistent handling of form data caching mechanisms. When a web form field has autocomplete="off" or similar attributes set to disable automatic completion, the browser should not store this information in a way that could be retrieved later. However, Safari versions before 3.2 failed to properly respect these settings and continued to cache form data including passwords, personal identification numbers, and other sensitive information. This inconsistency between the form field configuration and the actual caching behavior creates a persistent security gap that can be exploited by local users with access to the browser cache.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable credential theft and identity compromise. Attackers can leverage this flaw to retrieve cached form data from previous sessions, effectively bypassing the intended security controls of autocomplete disablement. This is particularly dangerous in shared computing environments or when users do not properly clear their browser cache, as sensitive information such as passwords, credit card numbers, and personal identification details may remain accessible to anyone with access to the browser cache. The vulnerability is especially concerning because it operates at the browser level and can affect any form submission that was processed before the cache was cleared or overwritten.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and represents a specific instance where browser cache management fails to properly protect sensitive data. From an attack perspective, this issue can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1555.003, "Credentials from Password Stores," as it enables attackers to harvest cached credentials and sensitive form data. The flaw also demonstrates poor input validation and output handling practices in the browser's caching subsystem, where the application fails to properly sanitize or protect sensitive data based on user configuration settings. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Safari 3.2 or later versions, educating users about proper cache management, and ensuring that sensitive form fields are properly configured with appropriate security attributes to prevent unintended data retention.