CVE-2011-3367 in Arora
Summary
by MITRE
Arora, possibly 0.11 and other versions, does not use a certain font when rendering certificate fields in a security dialog, which allows remote attackers to spoof the common name (CN) of a certificate via rich text.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/27/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-3367 affects the Arora web browser version 0.11 and potentially other releases, presenting a significant security risk through certificate field rendering manipulation. This flaw resides in the browser's security dialog implementation where certificate information is displayed to users during secure connections. The issue specifically involves the browser's handling of font rendering for certificate fields, creating an opportunity for attackers to exploit the visual presentation of certificate data.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the browser's failure to properly utilize a designated font when displaying certificate information within security dialogs. This omission creates a rendering inconsistency that attackers can leverage to manipulate the visual appearance of certificate fields, particularly the common name field. By crafting malicious rich text content that exploits the font rendering behavior, attackers can make the certificate's common name appear to match a trusted entity while actually containing fraudulent information. This manipulation occurs at the presentation layer rather than the cryptographic validation layer, making it particularly insidious as users may trust the visual representation without recognizing the underlying deception.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple certificate spoofing to potentially enable man-in-the-middle attacks and phishing operations. When users encounter security dialogs displaying certificates, they rely on the visual presentation to verify the legitimacy of connections. The ability to manipulate certificate field rendering undermines this trust mechanism and could lead to users unknowingly accepting fraudulent certificates. This vulnerability particularly affects users who depend on certificate verification for secure communications and could compromise sensitive transactions, data transfers, and authentication processes. The attack vector requires remote exploitation through malicious websites or network interference, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical requirements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-3367 should focus on updating to patched versions of the Arora browser where font rendering for certificate fields has been properly implemented. Users should avoid untrusted websites and maintain current browser versions that address this specific rendering vulnerability. Security administrators should monitor for instances of the affected browser versions and ensure proper patch management protocols are in place. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper output sanitization and information exposure, and relates to ATT&CK technique T1556.001 for credential access through phishing. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider browser security hardening measures to prevent similar rendering-based attacks in other applications.