CVE-2014-1345 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit in Apple iOS before 7.1.2 and Apple Safari before 6.1.5 and 7.x before 7.0.5 does not properly encode domain names in URLs, which allows remote attackers to spoof the address bar via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/08/2022
This vulnerability resides in the WebKit rendering engine used by Apple iOS and Safari browsers, specifically affecting versions prior to the mentioned patches. The flaw stems from improper handling of domain name encoding in uniform resource locators, creating a critical security gap that enables sophisticated phishing attacks. When a malicious website attempts to exploit this weakness, it can manipulate the URL display in the browser's address bar to appear as though the user is visiting a legitimate domain while actually navigating to an attacker-controlled site. The technical root cause involves the browser's failure to properly sanitize or validate domain name components within URLs, allowing special characters or encoding sequences to bypass normal validation mechanisms. This creates a deceptive environment where users cannot trust the visual indicators provided by the browser interface, fundamentally undermining the security model that relies on address bar verification for site authentication.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-1345 extends far beyond simple visual deception, as it enables attackers to execute sophisticated social engineering campaigns with significantly higher success rates. Users who rely on visual cues from the address bar for site verification may unknowingly submit sensitive information to malicious sites, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous for financial transactions, email access, and other credential-intensive activities. The attack vector typically involves crafting malicious web pages with specially encoded domain names that appear legitimate when displayed in the browser's address bar, while actually redirecting to completely different servers. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-185, which addresses improper handling of regular expressions and encoding issues, and maps to attack techniques in the ATT&CK framework under T1566 for credential harvesting and T1071 for application layer protocols. The vulnerability affects not only end users but also enterprise environments where browser security is critical for protecting against targeted attacks and data breaches.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems to the recommended versions, specifically iOS 7.1.2 and Safari versions 6.1.5 and 7.0.5. Organizations should implement network-level controls including web filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious URL patterns, as well as user education programs that emphasize the importance of verifying URLs through multiple means beyond just address bar appearance. Browser security enhancements such as strict URL validation, enhanced domain name encoding checks, and automatic warning systems for potentially malicious sites should be enabled. Additional defensive measures include implementing browser security extensions, monitoring for unusual domain name patterns in network traffic, and establishing incident response procedures for detecting potential exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing certificate pinning mechanisms where appropriate, as well as regular security audits to ensure that all client systems maintain current security patches. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and encoding handling in web applications, reinforcing industry best practices around secure coding standards and the need for continuous security testing and monitoring.