CVE-2019-11699 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
A malicious page can briefly cause the wrong name to be highlighted as the domain name in the addressbar during page navigations. This could result in user confusion of which site is currently loaded for spoofing attacks. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 67.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical user interface deception flaw that undermines the fundamental security principle of web browser address bar integrity. The issue manifests as a timing window during page navigation where the browser displays an incorrect domain name in the address bar, creating an opportunity for sophisticated phishing and spoofing attacks. The vulnerability specifically impacts Firefox versions prior to 67, indicating a window of exposure where users could be misled about the actual website they are visiting. This type of attack leverages the trust users place in browser address bars as a primary security indicator for verifying website authenticity. The flaw occurs during the transition period between page loads when the browser momentarily displays incorrect information, potentially allowing attackers to exploit this brief window to display malicious domains while the legitimate site loads. Such vulnerabilities directly relate to CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and specifically target user trust mechanisms that are fundamental to secure browsing practices. The operational impact extends beyond simple confusion as it enables attackers to craft convincing phishing pages that can temporarily display legitimate domain names, making it significantly harder for users to detect malicious activity.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of domain name display during asynchronous page loading operations. During navigation sequences, the browser's address bar update mechanism fails to properly synchronize with the page loading process, creating a race condition where stale or incorrect domain information can be briefly displayed. This synchronization issue typically occurs when the browser attempts to display information from different sources simultaneously, such as the current page's domain, the target page's domain, or cached information from previous navigations. The flaw represents a failure in the browser's user interface rendering logic and demonstrates inadequate state management during page transition events. Attackers can exploit this by carefully crafting malicious pages that trigger the timing window, potentially causing the address bar to display a trusted domain while the actual malicious content loads. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering tactics using deceptive websites, and specifically targets the user's perception of website authenticity through address bar manipulation.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend far beyond simple visual deception, as it directly undermines the browser's role as a security boundary between users and potentially malicious websites. Users who rely on address bar verification for security decisions may be misled into trusting malicious sites, potentially leading to credential theft, financial fraud, or malware installation. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the user interface level where security decisions are made, making it difficult to detect through traditional network monitoring or security tools. The brief duration of the incorrect display makes it challenging for users to recognize the deception, and the timing window can be exploited by attackers who understand the browser's loading behavior. This type of vulnerability also affects user confidence in browser security mechanisms and can lead to decreased effectiveness of security awareness training programs that rely on address bar verification as a security control. The impact is amplified in environments where users frequently navigate between trusted and untrusted sites, as the deception can occur during legitimate browsing activities. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader browser security posture assessment, particularly in environments where users may be targeted by sophisticated phishing campaigns. The remediation requires careful attention to browser update policies and user education about the importance of verifying website authenticity through multiple indicators beyond just the address bar.