CVE-2013-2303 in Sleipnir
Summary
by MITRE
Sleipnir 4.0.0.4000 and earlier on Windows allows remote attackers to spoof the SSL lock icon and address-bar colors via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/25/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-2303 affects Sleipnir web browser versions 4.0.0.4000 and earlier on Windows operating systems. This security flaw represents a critical issue in the browser's implementation of Secure Sockets Layer certificate validation mechanisms, specifically targeting the user interface elements that indicate secure connections to websites. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to manipulate visual indicators that users rely upon to verify the authenticity of secure web sessions.
The technical flaw manifests through unspecified vectors that enable attackers to bypass the browser's normal certificate validation procedures. When users navigate to legitimate secure websites, the browser's SSL lock icon and address-bar colors can be artificially altered to appear as if the connection is secure, even when it is not. This manipulation occurs at the presentation layer of the browser's user interface, where visual cues are displayed to indicate the security status of web connections. The vulnerability essentially undermines the fundamental trust model that web browsers establish between users and secure websites, allowing attackers to create false impressions of security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple visual deception to potentially enable sophisticated phishing attacks and man-in-the-middle operations. Users who rely on the SSL lock icon and address-bar color changes to verify website authenticity may be misled into trusting malicious websites that appear to be legitimate secure connections. This vulnerability particularly affects users who may not have technical expertise to independently verify certificate information, as the visual indicators serve as their primary method of determining connection security. The attack surface is significant since it affects all users of affected browser versions when visiting any website, regardless of whether the site is known to be malicious or not.
The security implications of this vulnerability align with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control in software implementations. This weakness specifically relates to inadequate protection of security-relevant information and the potential for unauthorized modification of security indicators. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for credential harvesting through phishing and T1071 for application layer protocol usage. The attack chain typically involves an attacker compromising a website or network position to manipulate SSL certificate presentation, thereby deceiving users into providing sensitive information or accessing malicious content. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including browser updates, network monitoring for suspicious SSL certificate behavior, and user education about alternative methods for verifying website authenticity. Additionally, security professionals should consider deploying network-based solutions that can detect and alert on anomalous SSL certificate presentations that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and implementing layered security approaches that do not rely solely on visual indicators for security verification.