CAPEC-701: Browser in the Middle (BiTM)
An adversary exploits the inherent functionalities of a web browser, in order to establish an unnoticed remote desktop connection in the victim's browser to the adversary's system. The adversary must deploy a web client with a remote desktop session that the victim can access.
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Overview
Unlike Adversary in the Browser, the victim does not need to install a malicious application. Browser in the Middle uses the inherent functionalities of a web browser to convince the victim they are browsing normally under the assumption that the connection is secure. All the actions performed by the victim in the open window are actually performed on the machine of the adversary. These victim-authenticated sessions are available to the adversary to use. All entered data such as passwords and usernames can be logged by the adversary and the content displayed to the victim can be altered arbitrarily. Varieties of multifactor authentication which rely solely on user input and do not use a form of hardware-based secret exchange are vulnerable to browser in the middle.
How the attack works
The phases an attacker typically follows to carry out this attack.
- Step 1Explore
[Identify potential targets] The adversary identifies an application or service that the target is likely to use.
- The adversary stands up a server to host the transparent browser and entices victims to use it by using a domain name similar to the legitimate application. In addition to the transparent browser, the adversary could also install a web proxy, sniffer, keylogger, and other tools to assist in their goals.
- Step 2Experiment
[Lure victims] The adversary crafts a phishing campaign to lure unsuspecting victims into using the transparent browser.
- An adversary can create a convincing email with a link to download the web client and interact with the transparent browser.