CVE-2016-1965 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox before 45.0 and Firefox ESR 38.x before 38.7 mishandle a navigation sequence that returns to the original page, which allows remote attackers to spoof the address bar via vectors involving the history.back method and the location.protocol property.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2022
This vulnerability exists in mozilla firefox versions prior to 45.0 and firefox esr 38.x versions prior to 38.7, where the browser fails to properly handle navigation sequences that return to the original page. The flaw specifically relates to how the browser manages the history.back() method in conjunction with the location.protocol property, creating a potential security risk that could be exploited by remote attackers. The technical implementation involves a race condition or improper state management within the browser's navigation handling mechanism that allows malicious actors to manipulate the address bar display.
The core technical flaw stems from improper validation of navigation sequences when users return to previously visited pages through the history.back() API. When a page navigates away and then returns to its original location, the browser should properly maintain the integrity of the address bar display. However, in vulnerable versions, attackers can exploit this behavior by crafting specific navigation sequences that manipulate the location.protocol property while using history.back() to return to the original page. This creates a scenario where the browser's address bar can be made to display a false URL, effectively enabling address bar spoofing attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to conduct phishing attacks by making users believe they are visiting a legitimate website when they are actually on a malicious page. This type of attack falls under the category of UI redressing or address bar spoofing, where users are deceived into trusting a false URL displayed in the browser's address bar. The vulnerability specifically enables attackers to manipulate the protocol display, potentially showing http instead of https or displaying a different domain entirely, which could be used to steal credentials or sensitive information from unsuspecting users.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-601, which addresses URL redirector abuse, and represents a specific instance of UI redressing attacks that are catalogued in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol. The flaw demonstrates a failure in input validation and proper state management within the browser's navigation system, creating a pathway for attackers to exploit trust relationships between users and web applications. Security researchers have noted that this type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the user interface level, making it difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring or security scanning methods.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability involves updating to firefox version 45.0 or later, or firefox esr 38.7 or later, where the navigation handling has been corrected to properly validate and manage history back operations. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as user education about phishing detection, browser security extensions, and monitoring for suspicious navigation patterns. The fix implemented by mozilla involved strengthening the validation logic for navigation sequences and ensuring proper handling of the location.protocol property during history.back() operations, preventing the address bar from being manipulated through these specific vectors.