CVE-2017-2376 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.3 is affected. Safari before 10.1 is affected. The issue involves the "Safari" component. It allows remote attackers to spoof the address bar by leveraging text input during the loading of a page.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/21/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-2376 represents a significant security flaw in Apple's Safari web browser implementation that affected iOS versions prior to 10.3 and Safari versions prior to 10.1. This issue resides within the Safari component of Apple's ecosystem and demonstrates a critical weakness in the browser's address bar validation mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically exploits the text input handling during page loading processes, creating an opportunity for malicious actors to manipulate the user interface in ways that could deceive users about the true destination of their web navigation.
This security weakness enables remote attackers to perform address bar spoofing attacks by manipulating text input elements while web pages are in the process of loading. The flaw occurs during the critical phase when browsers are parsing and rendering page content, allowing malicious actors to inject deceptive text that temporarily overrides or obscures the legitimate URL displayed in the address bar. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the user interface level, directly impacting user trust and the browser's ability to provide accurate navigation context. This type of attack falls under the category of UI redressing or phishing attacks, where users are misled about the actual website they are visiting.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-2376 extends beyond simple deception, as it creates potential entry points for more sophisticated attacks including credential theft, malware distribution, and financial fraud. Users who are unaware of the spoofing mechanism may inadvertently provide sensitive information to malicious sites that appear to be legitimate. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill from attackers and can be implemented through standard web development techniques, making it particularly dangerous in the context of social engineering campaigns. This flaw directly violates security principles of user interface integrity and can be categorized under CWE-611 Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference, as it involves improper handling of external input during rendering processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a failure in input validation and sanitization within Safari's rendering pipeline. During page load operations, the browser's text processing mechanisms do not adequately distinguish between legitimate and malicious text input, allowing attackers to inject deceptive content that temporarily overrides the address bar display. This issue aligns with ATT&CK technique T1056.001 Credential Injection, where attackers manipulate user interfaces to obtain credentials, and represents a clear violation of secure coding practices for web browser implementations. The vulnerability's persistence during page loading operations means that even legitimate sites could be compromised if attackers can inject malicious content during the loading sequence.
Organizations and users affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including updating to iOS 10.3 and Safari 10.1 or later versions where Apple has addressed the issue through improved input validation and rendering pipeline security. System administrators should also consider implementing additional browser security measures such as content security policies and enhanced phishing protection mechanisms. The vulnerability highlights the importance of comprehensive input validation in web browser implementations and serves as a reminder of the critical need for continuous security testing of user interface components. This issue underscores the necessity of following secure coding practices and proper validation of all user-provided content, particularly in contexts where user trust and security are paramount.