CVE-2002-1286 in Java Virtual Machine
Summary
by MITRE
The Microsoft Java implementation, as used in Internet Explorer, allows remote attackers to steal cookies and execute script in a different security context via a URL that contains a colon in the domain portion, which is not properly parsed and loads an applet from a malicious site within the security context of the site that is being visited by the user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/17/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2002-1286 represents a critical security flaw in Microsoft's Java implementation that was integrated into Internet Explorer, specifically targeting the way the browser handled URL parsing and security contexts when loading Java applets. This issue stems from improper handling of colons within the domain portion of URLs, creating a fundamental breach in the browser's security model that allowed malicious actors to exploit cross-site scripting vulnerabilities. The flaw specifically affected users who visited websites that contained URLs with colons in the domain component, enabling attackers to manipulate the security context under which Java applets were executed.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the incorrect parsing of Uniform Resource Locators where colons appear within the domain name portion of a URL. When Internet Explorer encountered such malformed URLs, the Java implementation failed to properly separate the domain component from the path, resulting in the browser loading Java applets from a malicious domain while maintaining the security context of the originally visited site. This behavior violates fundamental security principles and creates a dangerous attack vector that bypasses standard security boundaries. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-20 as "Improper Input Validation" and specifically relates to CWE-257 as "Use of Hard-coded Password" in the context of security context manipulation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple cookie theft, as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary script code within the security context of legitimate websites, potentially leading to complete account compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive user data. Attackers could craft malicious URLs that would appear legitimate to users while simultaneously loading harmful Java applets from different domains, exploiting the trust relationship between the user and the visited website. This type of cross-site scripting attack could result in session hijacking, data exfiltration, and the execution of malicious code that operates with the privileges and permissions of the legitimate website, making it particularly dangerous for financial institutions, social media platforms, and any service handling sensitive user information.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of the affected Microsoft Java implementation and browser components, as well as the implementation of proper URL parsing validation to prevent the exploitation of malformed URLs. Organizations needed to ensure that all Internet Explorer installations were updated with the latest security patches, while network administrators should have implemented URL filtering and content security policies to prevent access to potentially malicious sites. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of proper input validation and security context management in web browsers, leading to improved security practices that are now standard in modern browser implementations. This issue contributed to the broader understanding of cross-site scripting vulnerabilities and reinforced the need for comprehensive security testing of URL parsing mechanisms within web browsers. The attack pattern described in this vulnerability aligns with techniques found in the ATT&CK framework under T1059 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1566 for Phishing, emphasizing the social engineering aspects of exploiting such security flaws.