CVE-2015-3755 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit in Apple Safari before 6.2.8, 7.x before 7.1.8, and 8.x before 8.0.8, as used in iOS before 8.4.1 and other products, allows remote attackers to spoof the user interface via a malformed URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2022
This vulnerability resides in the WebKit rendering engine used by Apple Safari and iOS browsers, specifically affecting versions prior to the mentioned patches. The flaw represents a user interface spoofing issue that allows remote attackers to manipulate the browser's visual presentation through carefully crafted malicious URLs. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of URL schemes and their associated visual elements, enabling attackers to present misleading interface elements that could deceive users into believing they are interacting with legitimate websites. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-601 category of URL Redirector Abuse, where the system fails to properly validate or sanitize URL inputs that could lead to deceptive user experiences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the way WebKit processes and displays URL information within the browser's user interface components. When users navigate to maliciously crafted URLs, the browser's URL parsing mechanism fails to properly distinguish between legitimate and malicious URL formats, allowing attackers to manipulate how the address bar displays information or how interface elements appear to the user. This manipulation can cause users to believe they are visiting a trusted website when in reality they are interacting with a malicious page designed to steal credentials or personal information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple deception as it creates a significant attack surface for phishing campaigns and credential theft operations. Attackers can leverage this flaw to create convincing fake login pages or fraudulent banking interfaces that appear legitimate to users. The vulnerability particularly affects mobile users running older iOS versions, as the attack can be executed through simple web page navigation or link clicks. This type of attack aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for Phishing and T1531 for Account Access via the manipulation of user interface elements to deceive victims.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Safari and iOS versions, as the flaw exists in the core browser rendering engine. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies and consider deploying additional security measures such as URL filtering solutions and user education programs. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious URL patterns and implement security controls that can detect and block malformed URLs attempting to exploit this vulnerability. The fix implemented by Apple involved strengthening URL validation routines and improving the sanitization of URL components to prevent unauthorized manipulation of the browser's user interface presentation layer.