Detailed attack pattern
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An adversary registers a domain name one bit different than a trusted domain. A BitSquatting attack leverages random errors in memory to direct Internet traffic to adversary-controlled destinations. BitSquatting requires no exploitation or complicated reverse engineering, and is operating system and architecture agnostic. Experimental observations show that BitSquatting popular websites could redirect non-trivial amounts of Internet traffic to a malicious entity.
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CAPEC-611 (BitSquatting) is a detailed-level attack pattern catalogued by MITRE in the Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC). It describes a recurring method attackers use to exploit software weaknesses.
The phases an attacker typically follows to carry out this attack.
[Determine target website] The adversary first determines which website to impersonate, generally one that is trusted and receives a consistent amount of traffic.
[Impersonate trusted domain] In order to impersonate the trusted domain, the adversary needs to register the BitSquatted URL.
[Wait for a user to visit the domain] Finally, the adversary simply waits for a user to be unintentionally directed to the BitSquatted domain.
What a successful CAPEC-611 attack can achieve.
Other
Affects: Other
Depending on the intention of the adversary, a successful BitSquatting attack can be leveraged to execute more complex attacks such as cross-site scripting or stealing account credentials.
Defenses that reduce the risk of CAPEC-611.
Common questions about CAPEC-611.
An adversary registers a domain name one bit different than a trusted domain. A BitSquatting attack leverages random errors in memory to direct Internet traffic to adversary-controlled destinations. BitSquatting requires no exploitation or complicated reverse engineering, and is operating system and architecture agnostic. Experimental observations show that BitSquatting popular websites could redirect non-trivial amounts of Internet traffic to a malicious entity.
It typically unfolds over 3 phases. It begins with: [Determine target website] The adversary first determines which website to impersonate, generally one that is trusted and receives a consistent amount of traffic.
Authenticate all servers and perform redundant checks when using DNS hostnames.
MITRE rates CAPEC-611 as Medium severity with low likelihood of attack.
Attack-pattern data is sourced from the MITRE CAPEC catalog (v3.9). Weakness associations link to the corresponding CWE entries on RadicalNotion.AI.
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