CVE-2017-0069 in Edge
Summary
by MITRE
Microsoft Edge allows remote attackers to spoof web content via a crafted web site, aka "Microsoft Edge Spoofing Vulnerability." This vulnerability is different from those described in CVE-2017-0012 and CVE-2017-0033.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/24/2024
The Microsoft Edge Spoofing Vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-0069 represents a critical security flaw in the Edge browser that enables remote attackers to manipulate web content presentation and deceive users about the authenticity of websites. This vulnerability specifically affects Microsoft Edge versions prior to the security updates released in January 2017, creating a significant risk for users who rely on Edge for web browsing activities. The flaw stems from insufficient validation mechanisms that allow malicious actors to craft web pages designed to exploit user trust in legitimate websites by presenting misleading content that appears to originate from trusted sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of browser rendering behaviors and content display mechanisms within Microsoft Edge's user interface. Attackers can exploit this weakness by creating specially crafted web pages that leverage browser inconsistencies in how they handle certain HTML elements, CSS properties, or JavaScript behaviors. The vulnerability specifically targets the browser's ability to properly distinguish between legitimate and malicious content presentation, allowing attackers to overlay or modify elements in a way that confuses users about the actual source and nature of the displayed content. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-604 enumeration for access control vulnerabilities, specifically related to improper restriction of operations within a limited scope, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1056.001 for input validation and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments that could leverage this spoofing capability.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-0069 extends beyond simple content manipulation to create serious risks for user authentication and data protection. Users may be deceived into entering sensitive information on fraudulent pages that appear to be legitimate banking, social media, or corporate websites. The vulnerability particularly affects phishing campaigns where attackers attempt to harvest credentials or personal information by making malicious sites appear trustworthy. Additionally, the spoofing capability could enable more sophisticated attacks such as man-in-the-middle scenarios where attackers intercept communications or manipulate transactions. The risk is compounded by the fact that this vulnerability affects a widely used browser, potentially exposing millions of users to coordinated attack campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-0069 primarily focus on immediate software updates and browser security hardening measures. Microsoft released security updates in January 2017 that addressed the underlying rendering and validation issues in Edge browser components. Organizations should prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected systems and implement browser security policies that limit the exposure to potentially malicious content. Additional protective measures include enabling browser security features such as phishing protection, content filtering, and user education about recognizing spoofed websites. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and DNS-based filtering can provide additional layers of defense. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current security practices and following the principle of least privilege when accessing sensitive systems, as outlined in various cybersecurity frameworks including NIST SP 800-53 and ISO 27001 standards.