CVE-2019-8670 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
An inconsistent user interface issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in macOS Mojave 10.14.6, Safari 12.1.2. Visiting a malicious website may lead to address bar spoofing.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8670 represents a critical user interface inconsistency that could be exploited to deceive users through address bar spoofing techniques. This issue specifically affected the macOS Mojave operating system and Safari web browser, where improper state management allowed malicious websites to manipulate the browser's visual presentation in ways that could mislead users about the actual web address they were visiting. The flaw emerged from inadequate handling of browser states during navigation and rendering processes, creating opportunities for attackers to craft deceptive user experiences that could bypass normal security mechanisms designed to protect users from phishing and spoofing attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from the browser's failure to properly manage and synchronize the visual state of the address bar with the actual navigation context. When a user visited a malicious website, the browser's inconsistent handling of state transitions could result in the address bar displaying false information while the underlying content remained controlled by the attacker. This inconsistency allowed for sophisticated spoofing attacks where the attacker could make the browser appear to be displaying a legitimate website address while actually rendering content from a different, potentially malicious domain. The vulnerability specifically manifested when the browser's internal state management system failed to properly validate and synchronize the address bar display with the actual page content, creating a window of opportunity for attackers to exploit the inconsistency.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8670 extends beyond simple visual deception to potentially enable more serious security incidents including credential theft, malware distribution, and financial fraud. Users who were unaware of the address bar manipulation could be tricked into entering sensitive information on what they believed to be legitimate websites, while attackers could leverage the vulnerability to distribute malicious content without raising immediate suspicion. The risk was particularly elevated because the spoofing occurred at the user interface level, making it difficult for users to detect the deception through normal browsing behavior. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-691, which addresses inadequate state management in applications, and represents a classic example of how user interface inconsistencies can create security weaknesses that bypass traditional defense mechanisms.
The remediation for this vulnerability required updates to both the macOS Mojave operating system and Safari web browser, specifically addressing the root cause through improved state management protocols and enhanced validation mechanisms. Apple's patch for CVE-2019-8670 focused on strengthening the browser's state synchronization processes to ensure that address bar displays accurately reflected the actual navigation context and that visual elements remained consistent with the underlying security state. This fix implemented more robust checks to prevent inconsistent rendering of the address bar during page transitions and enhanced the browser's ability to detect and prevent malicious manipulation of UI elements. Organizations should prioritize deployment of these updates as they address a fundamental security weakness that could enable sophisticated social engineering attacks. The vulnerability's resolution demonstrates the importance of proper state management in security-critical applications and highlights how seemingly minor UI inconsistencies can create significant security exposure. This issue also relates to ATT&CK technique T1566, which covers social engineering tactics that exploit user interface deception to manipulate user behavior.