CWE-451: User Interface (UI) Misrepresentation of Critical Information
Learn about CWE-451 (User Interface (UI) Misrepresentation of Critical Information), its security impact, exploitation methods, and prevention guidelines.
What is User Interface (UI) Misrepresentation of Critical Information?
• Overview: User Interface (UI) Misrepresentation of Critical Information is a vulnerability where the UI fails to accurately present crucial information, potentially obscuring or spoofing the data or its source, often used in phishing attacks.
• Exploitation Methods:
- Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by altering UI elements to display misleading information.
- Common attack patterns include clickjacking through overlays, icon manipulation to disguise file types, race conditions affecting state indicators, and visual truncation or distinction issues that obscure critical data.
• Security Impact:
- Direct consequences include users being misled into making incorrect decisions based on false information.
- Potential cascading effects involve unauthorized access or actions taken by users, leading to security breaches.
- Business impact includes loss of user trust, potential legal liabilities, and financial losses due to fraud or data breaches.
• Prevention Guidelines:
- Specific code-level fixes include validating UI elements to ensure they display accurate information and are protected against modification by unauthorized processes.
- Security best practices involve designing UI with clear, unambiguous indicators and regularly testing for visual weaknesses.
- Recommended tools and frameworks include using secure UI libraries, incorporating anti-phishing and anti-clickjacking measures, and employing tools that simulate attacks to test UI robustness.
Technical Details
Likelihood of Exploit: Not specified
Affected Languages: Not Language-Specific
Affected Technologies: Not specified
Vulnerable Code Example
JavaScript Example
// HTML snippet demonstrating a User Interface (UI) Misrepresentation vulnerability
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Account Verification</title>
</head>
<body>
<!-- Misleading UI - The link text is deceptive, it doesn't match the actual URL -->
<p>To verify your account, click <a href="http://malicious-site.com" style="color: blue;">here</a>.</p>
<!-- The link text suggests a safe action, but the URL is malicious -->
</body>
</html>
Explanation
In this example, the UI misrepresentation vulnerability is demonstrated by a misleading link. The link text "here" does not provide any indication of the actual destination, which is a malicious URL. This can be exploited in phishing attacks where users are tricked into clicking on harmful links disguised as trustworthy actions.
How to fix User Interface (UI) Misrepresentation of Critical Information?
The vulnerability arises from misleading UI elements that can trick users into performing unsafe actions, such as clicking on a link that appears legitimate but redirects to a malicious site. This can be exploited in phishing attacks where attackers disguise harmful links as safe ones.
Fix Approach:
- Precise Labeling: Always ensure that the link text and the actual URL match. Do not use ambiguous or misleading link text.
- Visible URLs: Display the full URL or a trustworthy domain when possible so users can verify the link's destination.
- Security Indicators: Use additional indicators (such as icons or tooltips) to reinforce the authenticity of the link.
- User Education: Educate users on how to identify and avoid phishing attempts.
By applying these best practices, you can significantly reduce the risk of UI misrepresentation vulnerabilities.
Fixed Code Example
// Fixed HTML snippet with clear and honest UI representation
<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<title>Account Verification</title>
</head>
<body>
<!-- Clear and honest UI - The link text accurately represents the URL -->
<p>To verify your account, click <a href="http://trusted-site.com" style="color: blue;">http://trusted-site.com</a>.</p>
<!-- The link text now displays the actual URL, making it clear to users -->
</body>
</html>
Explanation
In this fixed version, the link text accurately represents the URL, reducing the risk of user deception. By displaying the full URL, users can easily verify the link's destination, promoting transparency and trust. This approach helps users make informed decisions about the links they choose to click, thereby enhancing security against phishing attacks.