CVE-2009-2062 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Apple Safari before 3.2.2 processes a 3xx HTTP CONNECT response before a successful SSL handshake, which allows man-in-the-middle attackers to execute arbitrary web script, in an https site s context, by modifying this CONNECT response to specify a 302 redirect to an arbitrary https web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2019
This vulnerability in Apple Safari browsers prior to version 3.2.2 represents a critical security flaw in the handling of HTTP CONNECT requests during SSL/TLS handshakes. The issue stems from the browser's improper processing sequence where it accepts and acts upon 3xx HTTP redirect responses before completing the SSL handshake process. This behavioral anomaly creates a window of opportunity for attackers to perform man-in-the-middle attacks by intercepting and modifying the CONNECT response to redirect users to malicious HTTPS sites. The vulnerability specifically targets the SSL/TLS connection establishment phase where the browser should maintain strict security protocols before accepting any redirects.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves the browser's handling of HTTP CONNECT tunneling for HTTPS connections. When Safari encounters an HTTPS request, it establishes a TCP connection and sends a CONNECT request to the proxy server. Normally, the SSL handshake should complete successfully before any redirect responses are processed. However, in versions before 3.2.2, Safari prematurely processes the 3xx redirect response, allowing attackers to modify the CONNECT response to include a 302 redirect that points to an attacker-controlled HTTPS site. This allows malicious actors to inject arbitrary web scripts within the context of the original HTTPS site, effectively bypassing the security model that should protect against such attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary web scripts within the security context of legitimate HTTPS sites, potentially leading to session hijacking, credential theft, data exfiltration, and other malicious activities. The vulnerability affects users of Apple Safari browsers across multiple operating systems, including Mac OS X and iOS devices, making it particularly dangerous given Safari's widespread usage. The attack vector requires minimal sophistication, as it only requires the ability to intercept and modify network traffic, typically achieved through compromised network positions such as public Wi-Fi hotspots or malicious proxies.
This vulnerability aligns with several CWE categories including CWE-294 authentication bypass through interception, CWE-310 cryptographic issues, and CWE-20 improper input validation. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this corresponds to T1571honeypotting techniques and T1071.004 application layer protocol, specifically targeting the HTTP protocol handling within the browser's network stack. The attack pattern follows T1190 exploitation for credential access, as users may unknowingly navigate to malicious sites while believing they are on legitimate secure sites. Organizations and individuals should immediately upgrade to Safari version 3.2.2 or later to mitigate this vulnerability, as the flaw essentially undermines the fundamental security guarantees provided by HTTPS encryption. Additionally, network administrators should implement proper traffic monitoring and inspection to detect potential exploitation attempts, while users should remain vigilant about unusual browser behavior and ensure their systems are regularly updated with security patches.