CVE-2017-7142 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. Safari before 11 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit Storage" component. It allows attackers to bypass the Safari Private Browsing protection mechanism, and consequently obtain sensitive information about visited web sites.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/29/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7142 represents a critical security flaw in Apple Safari browsers prior to version 11, specifically within the WebKit Storage component. This issue fundamentally undermines the privacy protections that users expect when utilizing Safari's Private Browsing mode, creating a significant risk for individuals who rely on this feature for confidential web activities. The flaw exists in the way Safari handles storage mechanisms during private browsing sessions, allowing malicious actors to circumvent intended privacy controls and access information about websites that users have visited.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of storage persistence mechanisms within the WebKit rendering engine that Safari employs. When users engage in private browsing, the browser should isolate all storage operations from regular browsing sessions to prevent tracking and data leakage. However, the flaw in the WebKit Storage component allows attackers to access storage data that should remain isolated during private browsing sessions. This occurs through manipulation of storage APIs and persistence mechanisms that are supposed to be restricted during private browsing mode, effectively creating a bypass of Safari's intended privacy protections.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privacy concerns to encompass potential data exfiltration and tracking capabilities. Attackers who exploit this flaw can reconstruct user browsing histories, identify visited websites, and potentially gather sensitive information about user activities without detection. This capability directly violates the fundamental expectations of private browsing functionality and can expose users to targeted attacks, surveillance, or data breaches. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but also organizations where employees may inadvertently expose sensitive information through private browsing sessions that are supposed to be secure.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and demonstrates how storage-related security flaws can undermine broader privacy protections within web browsers. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this represents a technique for privilege escalation and information gathering through browser-based attacks, specifically targeting the T1071.001 sub-technique for Application Layer Protocol: Web Protocols. The flaw essentially allows adversaries to perform reconnaissance activities that would normally be restricted, enabling them to build detailed profiles of user behavior and preferences. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in their threat modeling and incident response planning, particularly when dealing with sensitive information handling or compliance requirements.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7142 require immediate action to update Safari browsers to version 11 or later, where Apple has implemented proper isolation mechanisms for storage operations during private browsing sessions. System administrators should also implement network monitoring solutions to detect unusual storage access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of continuing to use vulnerable browser versions and the importance of keeping software updated. Organizations may need to consider implementing additional privacy controls or network segmentation to protect against potential exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where sensitive data is accessed through web browsers. The vulnerability underscores the importance of comprehensive browser security testing and the need for continuous monitoring of web application components for similar storage-related security flaws.