CVE-2002-1443 in Toolbar
Summary
by MITRE
The Google toolbar 1.1.58 and earlier allows remote web sites to monitor a user s input into the toolbar via an "onkeydown" event handler.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/13/2018
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2002-1443 represents a significant privacy and security risk associated with the Google toolbar version 1.1.58 and earlier installations. This flaw stems from the toolbar's improper handling of keyboard input events, specifically the onkeydown event handler that was inadvertently exposed to remote web pages. The vulnerability creates a persistent surveillance mechanism that allows malicious websites to monitor user interactions with the toolbar's search functionality, potentially capturing sensitive information entered by users during their browsing sessions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the toolbar's event handling architecture where the onkeydown JavaScript event was not properly sandboxed or restricted from external web page access. This design flaw enables remote attackers to inject malicious code that can intercept keyboard events as users type into the toolbar's search field. The event handler, which should have been confined to the toolbar's own context, was accessible to any web page that could establish a connection to the toolbar's interface. This cross-site scripting vulnerability creates a persistent monitoring capability that extends beyond the typical boundaries of web browser security models.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a serious threat to user privacy and data protection. The ability for remote websites to monitor keystrokes during toolbar usage could lead to the capture of sensitive information including passwords, personal identification numbers, credit card details, and other confidential data entered through the toolbar interface. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it operates silently in the background without user awareness, creating a persistent surveillance mechanism that could be exploited by cybercriminals for identity theft, financial fraud, and other malicious activities. The vulnerability essentially transforms the toolbar from a helpful search tool into a potential data exfiltration channel.
The impact of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications, and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1174 for hijacking keystrokes through browser extensions. This classification reflects the malicious use of browser extension capabilities to capture user input, which constitutes a form of credential access and data collection. The vulnerability also relates to CWE-20, which covers input validation issues, as the toolbar failed to properly validate and restrict external access to its event handlers. Organizations and users should consider this vulnerability as part of a broader category of browser extension security risks that can compromise user privacy and system integrity. The remediation approach should include immediate updates to the toolbar to version 1.1.59 or later, which addresses the event handler exposure issue through proper sandboxing and access control mechanisms.
Mitigation strategies should focus on both immediate remediation and long-term security improvements. Users must update their Google toolbar installations to versions that properly isolate event handlers from external web page access. Security administrators should implement browser extension management policies that restrict the capabilities of third-party toolbars and extensions. Network monitoring systems should be configured to detect unusual patterns of keyboard event interception that might indicate exploitation of similar vulnerabilities. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments of browser extensions and the need for proper input validation and event handler isolation in web-based applications. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as browser security policies and extension whitelisting to prevent unauthorized access to user input through browser components.