CVE-2012-3976 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox before 15.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.7, and SeaMonkey before 2.12 do not properly handle onLocationChange events during navigation between different https sites, which allows remote attackers to spoof the X.509 certificate information in the address bar via a crafted web page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/31/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-3976 represents a critical security flaw in Mozilla Firefox and SeaMonkey browsers that affects the handling of SSL/TLS certificate information during cross-site navigation. This issue specifically impacts versions prior to Firefox 15.0, Firefox ESR 10.x versions before 10.0.7, and SeaMonkey versions before 2.12, creating a significant window of opportunity for malicious actors to exploit certificate display inconsistencies. The flaw resides in how the browser processes onLocationChange events when transitioning between different https sites, which directly affects the visual representation of security indicators in the address bar.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation of certificate information during navigation transitions between secure sites. When users navigate from one https site to another, the browser's onLocationChange event handler fails to correctly update or verify the certificate details before displaying them in the address bar. This creates a temporal gap where attackers can manipulate the certificate information that appears to users, making it appear as though they are visiting a legitimate secure site when they are actually interacting with a malicious page. The flaw operates at the application layer and specifically targets the user interface components responsible for displaying security credentials, which aligns with CWE-200, "Information Exposure," and CWE-352, "Cross-Site Request Forgery," in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple certificate spoofing, as it fundamentally undermines user trust in the browser's security indicators and can enable sophisticated phishing attacks. Attackers can exploit this weakness to create convincing fake secure sites that appear legitimate to users who rely on visual security cues in the address bar. This vulnerability particularly affects users who navigate between multiple secure sites, as the attack surface increases with each cross-site transition. The attack vector requires a crafted web page that can manipulate the onLocationChange event handlers, typically through malicious JavaScript code that exploits the browser's certificate display mechanism, making it a client-side attack that can be executed through standard web browsing activities.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3976 require immediate browser updates to patched versions that properly handle certificate information during navigation transitions. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected browser installations are updated promptly. Additionally, security awareness training for end users should emphasize the importance of verifying certificate information through alternative means beyond visual indicators, such as checking the full URL and looking for certificate warnings. Network security controls including web filtering solutions and browser security extensions can provide additional layers of protection, though these measures are not substitutes for proper patching. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and highlights the need for robust certificate validation mechanisms in web applications, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for credential access through phishing attacks and T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage in web services.