CVE-2001-0919 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Internet Explorer 5.50.4134.0100 on Windows ME with "Prompt to allow cookies to be stored on your machine" enabled does not warn a user when a cookie is set using Javascript.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2017
This vulnerability resides in the web browser component of Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.50.4134.0100 running on Windows ME operating system. The flaw manifests when users have configured their browser to prompt for cookie storage permissions, creating a false sense of security regarding web tracking and user privacy. The vulnerability represents a critical breakdown in the browser's security model where the user consent mechanism fails to properly validate cookie-setting operations performed through client-side javascript code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from how Internet Explorer processes javascript cookie manipulation functions such as document.cookie. When javascript attempts to set a cookie value, the browser should verify whether user consent was previously obtained for cookie storage, particularly when the user has explicitly enabled the cookie prompt setting. However, the implementation fails to properly intercept and validate these javascript cookie operations, allowing unauthorized cookie setting without user notification. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and user consent in web browser security architecture.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for user privacy and security. Attackers can exploit this weakness to silently install tracking cookies on user machines without their knowledge, enabling persistent tracking of browsing habits, session management, and potential credential harvesting. This vulnerability directly undermines the user's ability to make informed decisions about their online privacy and creates opportunities for malicious actors to establish persistent monitoring capabilities. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where users rely on browser security prompts as their primary defense mechanism against unauthorized data collection.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-614, which addresses sensitive data exposure through inadequate cookie security controls, and demonstrates a failure in proper input validation and user consent enforcement. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this represents a technique for maintaining persistence through cookie manipulation and could be categorized under T1531 for "Account Access Removal" or T1070 for "Indicator Removal on Host" when combined with other tracking mechanisms. The vulnerability also relates to T1083 for "File and Directory Discovery" as it enables unauthorized access to user session information and preferences stored in cookie format. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including browser updates to patched versions, disabling javascript cookie manipulation where possible, and educating users about the importance of regularly clearing browser cookies and maintaining updated security configurations.