CVE-2020-7364 in UC Browser
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2020
User Interface (UI) Misrepresentation of Critical Information vulnerability in the address bar of UCWeb's UC Browser allows an attacker to obfuscate the true source of data as presented in the browser. This issue affects UCWeb's UC Browser version 13.0.8 and prior versions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2020
The CVE-2020-7364 vulnerability represents a significant user interface misrepresentation flaw within UCWeb's UC Browser that fundamentally compromises user trust and security awareness. This vulnerability specifically targets the address bar functionality, which serves as the primary interface element for users to verify the authenticity and source of web content they are accessing. The issue enables attackers to manipulate the visual presentation of critical information, creating a deceptive environment where users cannot accurately distinguish between legitimate and malicious web sources. This misrepresentation occurs at the core of browser security architecture, where the address bar typically displays the actual domain name and security indicators that users rely upon for safe navigation. The vulnerability affects all versions up to and including UC Browser version 13.0.8, indicating a prolonged period during which users were exposed to this risk without proper mitigation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from improper validation and display mechanisms within the browser's address bar implementation. Attackers can manipulate the visual representation of URLs and domain information in a manner that obscures the true source of data, potentially leading users to believe they are visiting legitimate websites when they are actually interacting with malicious content. This flaw operates at the intersection of user interface design and security protocols, where the browser fails to properly enforce the integrity of critical information display. The vulnerability essentially allows for URL spoofing attacks where the address bar may show a different domain or lack security indicators while the actual content being rendered remains under attacker control. This manipulation directly violates fundamental security principles where the address bar should serve as an immutable indicator of the true web source, and the flaw creates a window for social engineering attacks that exploit user trust in familiar browser interfaces.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple deception to potentially enable sophisticated phishing attacks, credential theft operations, and data exfiltration schemes. Users who rely on the address bar for security verification may unknowingly navigate to malicious sites, believing they are accessing legitimate services. This vulnerability particularly affects users who may not be security-savvy and depend heavily on visual cues from the browser interface to make security decisions. The attack surface is significant as it can be leveraged in various scenarios including targeted phishing campaigns, drive-by downloads, and man-in-the-middle attacks where the attacker can manipulate the perceived trustworthiness of web interactions. The vulnerability's impact is compounded by the widespread use of UC Browser, particularly in regions where alternative browsers may not be as prevalent, potentially exposing large user populations to coordinated attacks. This represents a critical failure in browser security architecture where the primary means of user verification becomes compromised.
Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to UC Browser versions that address this vulnerability, though the specific patch details are not provided in the description. System administrators should consider implementing additional security layers such as network-based URL filtering and content inspection systems to detect and block suspicious navigation patterns. Users should be educated about the importance of verifying SSL certificates and other security indicators beyond just address bar content, as this vulnerability demonstrates how even the most fundamental security elements can be manipulated. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-693 (Protection Mechanism Failure) and represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege in user interface design where security-critical elements must remain tamper-proof. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1566 (Phishing) and T1071.004 (Application Layer Protocol: DNS) as it enables attackers to manipulate user perception and potentially bypass traditional network-level security controls. The long-term mitigation strategy should include comprehensive browser security audits and the implementation of more robust verification mechanisms that cannot be easily circumvented through UI manipulation techniques.