CVE-2001-0745 in Messanger
Summary
by MITRE
Netscape 4.7x allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information such as the user s login, mailbox location and installation path via Javascript that accesses the mailbox: URL in the document.referrer property.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2018
This vulnerability exists in netscape 4.7x web browsers where javascript code can access the document.referrer property to retrieve mailbox url information. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and improper handling of url references within the browser's javascript engine. When a user navigates to a webpage that contains malicious javascript code, the script can access the document.referrer property to extract sensitive information about the user's mailbox configuration including login credentials and installation paths. This represents a classic information disclosure vulnerability that falls under cwe-200. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the legitimate document.referrer property which is normally used for tracking user navigation patterns and website referrals. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that when visited by unsuspecting users can extract this sensitive data without requiring any special privileges or authentication.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to gather intelligence about user email configurations and potentially use the extracted information for further attacks. The vulnerability specifically affects netscape 4.7x browsers which were widely deployed in enterprise environments during the early 2000s. When combined with other attack techniques, this information disclosure could lead to account takeovers, phishing attacks, or more sophisticated social engineering campaigns. The exploit requires minimal technical skill to implement and can be delivered through various means including malicious websites, email attachments, or compromised web applications. This vulnerability demonstrates poor security practices in the browser's handling of url references and reflects the lack of proper sanitization of user-supplied data within the javascript context.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include upgrading to newer versions of netscape browser that properly handle the document.referrer property and implement proper input validation. organizations should also implement web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious javascript attempts to access sensitive information through the document.referrer property. network administrators should consider implementing content filtering solutions that can identify and block known malicious patterns. users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping their browsers updated. from an att&ck perspective this vulnerability maps to technique t1059.007 for scripting and t1083 for file and directory discovery, as attackers can use this information to map out user environments and potentially escalate privileges. the vulnerability also relates to tactic ta0007 for credential access and ta0006 for privilege escalation. regular security audits should include checking for outdated browser versions and ensuring proper javascript security controls are in place. patch management procedures should be implemented to quickly deploy security fixes when available. organizations should also consider implementing security awareness training to help users recognize potentially malicious web content that could exploit this type of information disclosure vulnerability.