CAPEC-103 Clickjacking – Attack Pattern Analysis

CAPEC-103 Metadata

Likelihood of Attack

Medium

Typical Severity

High

Overview

Summary

An adversary tricks a victim into unknowingly initiating some action in one system while interacting with the UI from a seemingly completely different, usually an adversary controlled or intended, system.

Prerequisites

The victim is communicating with the target application via a web based UI and not a thick client The victim's browser security policies allow at least one of the following JavaScript, Flash, iFrames, ActiveX, or CSS. The victim uses a modern browser that supports UI elements like clickable buttons (i.e. not using an old text only browser) The victim has an active session with the target system. The target system's interaction window is open in the victim's browser and supports the ability for initiating sensitive actions on behalf of the user in the target system

Execution Flow

Step	Phase	Description	Techniques
1	Experiment	[Craft a clickjacking page] The adversary utilizes web page layering techniques to try to craft a malicious clickjacking page	The adversary leveraged iframe overlay capabilities to craft a malicious clickjacking page The adversary leveraged Flash file overlay capabilities to craft a malicious clickjacking page The adversary leveraged Silverlight overlay capabilities to craft a malicious clickjacking page The adversary leveraged cross-frame scripting to craft a malicious clickjacking page
2	Exploit	[Adversary lures victim to clickjacking page] Adversary utilizes some form of temptation, misdirection or coercion to lure the victim to loading and interacting with the clickjacking page in a way that increases the chances that the victim will click in the right areas.	Lure the victim to the malicious site by sending the victim an e-mail with a URL to the site. Lure the victim to the malicious site by manipulating URLs on a site trusted by the victim. Lure the victim to the malicious site through a cross-site scripting attack.
3	Exploit	[Trick victim into interacting with the clickjacking page in the desired manner] The adversary tricks the victim into clicking on the areas of the UI which contain the hidden action controls and thereby interacts with the target system maliciously with the victim's level of privilege.	Hide action controls over very commonly used functionality. Hide action controls over very psychologically tempting content.

Potential Solutions / Mitigations

If using the Firefox browser, use the NoScript plug-in that will help forbid iFrames. Turn off JavaScript, Flash and disable CSS. When maintaining an authenticated session with a privileged target system, do not use the same browser to navigate to unfamiliar sites to perform other activities. Finish working with the target system and logout first before proceeding to other tasks.

Related Weaknesses (CWE)

CWE ID	Description
CWE-1021	Improper Restriction of Rendered UI Layers or Frames

Related CAPECs

CAPEC ID	Description
CAPEC-173	An adversary is able to disguise one action for another and therefore trick a user into initiating one type of action when they intend to initiate a different action. For example, a user might be led to believe that clicking a button will submit a query, but in fact it downloads software. Adversaries may perform this attack through social means, such as by simply convincing a victim to perform the action or relying on a user's natural inclination to do so, or through technical means, such as a clickjacking attack where a user sees one interface but is actually interacting with a second, invisible, interface.

CAPEC ID

Description

CAPEC-173

An adversary is able to disguise one action for another and therefore trick a user into initiating one type of action when they intend to initiate a different action. For example, a user might be led to believe that clicking a button will submit a query, but in fact it downloads software. Adversaries may perform this attack through social means, such as by simply convincing a victim to perform the action or relying on a user's natural inclination to do so, or through technical means, such as a clickjacking attack where a user sees one interface but is actually interacting with a second, invisible, interface.

Taxonomy Mappings

Taxonomy: OWASP Attacks

Entry ID	Entry Name
Link	Clickjacking

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