CVE-2019-8654 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
An inconsistent user interface issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in Safari 13.0.1. Visiting a malicious website may lead to user interface spoofing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/09/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-8654 represents a critical inconsistency in Safari's user interface handling that could be exploited for deceptive purposes. This issue stems from inadequate state management within the browser's rendering engine, specifically affecting how the user interface components are handled during dynamic content transitions. The flaw allows malicious actors to manipulate the visual presentation of web pages in ways that could mislead users about the actual nature of their browsing environment. The vulnerability affects Apple Safari versions prior to 13.0.1, making it a significant concern for users who had not yet updated their browsers. The inconsistent state management manifests as a failure to properly validate and maintain the integrity of user interface elements during page transitions or content updates, creating opportunities for attackers to craft deceptive web experiences.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's inability to properly maintain consistent visual states when processing dynamic web content. When users navigate to malicious websites, the flawed state management can cause the browser to display misleading interface elements that do not accurately reflect the actual security context or destination of the user's navigation. This inconsistency allows attackers to create convincing spoofing scenarios where users might be tricked into believing they are interacting with legitimate websites while actually engaging with malicious content. The issue specifically relates to how Safari handles the rendering and updating of interface components during page transitions, where the browser fails to properly enforce consistency between the visual presentation and the underlying security state of the browsing session. This flaw falls under the broader category of user interface spoofing attacks that can be classified as CWE-690, which deals with uninitialized or improperly managed software state. The vulnerability demonstrates how improper state management can create security risks beyond traditional code execution flaws.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8654 extends beyond simple deception, potentially enabling more sophisticated attacks such as phishing campaigns, credential theft, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Users who encountered malicious websites before updating to Safari 13.0.1 could have been exposed to interface spoofing attacks that made it difficult to distinguish between legitimate and malicious web content. The vulnerability could be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users might be targeted through spear-phishing campaigns that exploit this interface inconsistency. Attackers could craft web pages that appear to be secure banking sites, corporate portals, or other trusted services while actually redirecting users to malicious destinations or capturing their credentials. The security implications align with tactics described in the attack framework where adversaries leverage user interface inconsistencies to bypass security awareness training and traditional security controls. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining consistent user interface states and proper validation of visual security indicators in web browsers. The attack surface is particularly concerning as it affects the fundamental trust model of web browsing where users rely on visual cues to make security decisions.
The remediation for CVE-2019-8654 required Apple to implement improved state management mechanisms within Safari's rendering engine to ensure consistent user interface behavior during content transitions. The fix in Safari 13.0.1 addresses the underlying state management issues that allowed the interface inconsistency to occur, thereby preventing malicious websites from exploiting this vulnerability. Organizations should prioritize updating to Safari 13.0.1 or later versions to protect against this specific threat vector. Security teams should also consider implementing additional monitoring for suspicious user interface behavior in web applications and conducting regular security assessments of browser configurations. The mitigation strategy emphasizes the importance of keeping browser software up to date and implementing proper security controls to detect and prevent interface spoofing attacks. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical role that user interface consistency plays in web security and the need for robust state management in browser implementations. The fix represents a significant improvement in Safari's security posture and aligns with best practices for maintaining secure user interface states as outlined in various security standards and frameworks.