CVE-2003-0592 in Konqueror
Summary
by MITRE
Konqueror in KDE 3.1.3 and earlier (kdelibs) allows remote attackers to bypass intended cookie access restrictions on a web application via "%2e%2e" (encoded dot dot) directory traversal sequences in a URL, which causes Konqueror to send the cookie outside the specified URL subsets, e.g. to a vulnerable application that runs on the same server as the target application.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2025
This vulnerability exists in Konqueror web browser version 3.1.3 and earlier within the kdelibs component, representing a critical directory traversal flaw that undermines web application security mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically exploits how Konqueror processes URL encoding sequences, particularly the "%2e%2e" representation of directory traversal components, allowing malicious actors to circumvent cookie access controls that are designed to restrict cookie transmission to specific URL paths or domains. The flaw enables attackers to manipulate how cookies are sent with HTTP requests by crafting URLs that contain encoded directory traversal sequences, thereby bypassing the intended security boundaries that web applications implement to protect sensitive session data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from Konqueror's inadequate handling of encoded path traversal sequences in URL parsing. When a user navigates to a URL containing "%2e%2e" sequences, the browser fails to properly normalize these paths, allowing the cookie to be transmitted to locations where it should not be accessible. This behavior creates a scenario where cookies that should remain confined to specific application contexts can be sent to other applications running on the same server, effectively enabling cross-application cookie leakage. The vulnerability operates at the HTTP client level, where the browser's URL parsing and cookie management mechanisms do not adequately validate or sanitize directory traversal sequences, leading to improper cookie scope enforcement.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to exploit cookie-based authentication and session management systems across multiple applications hosted on the same server. An attacker could craft malicious URLs that leverage this weakness to steal session cookies intended for one application and use them against another vulnerable application, potentially leading to unauthorized access, session hijacking, or privilege escalation. This type of cross-application cookie leakage is particularly dangerous in environments where multiple web applications share the same server infrastructure but maintain separate security boundaries. The vulnerability essentially undermines the fundamental principle of cookie scoping that web applications rely on for maintaining secure session contexts and preventing unauthorized access to sensitive resources.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-22 Directory Traversal and CWE-345 Insufficient Verification of Data Authenticity, demonstrating how improper input validation and path normalization can create security weaknesses in web client applications. The flaw also corresponds to techniques described in the ATT&CK framework under T1190 Exploit Public-Facing Application, where attackers leverage client-side vulnerabilities to bypass server-side security controls. The vulnerability's classification as a client-side directory traversal issue highlights the importance of robust input sanitization and proper URL parsing in web browsers, particularly when handling encoded characters that could be used to manipulate file system paths or HTTP request parameters.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including upgrading to Konqueror versions that address this vulnerability, typically those beyond 3.1.3, and implementing additional server-side protections such as strict cookie path and domain attributes, secure cookie flags, and proper application isolation techniques. Network administrators should also monitor for exploitation attempts and consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious URL patterns containing encoded directory traversal sequences. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of thorough input validation in web client applications and the need for comprehensive security testing of URL parsing and cookie management functionality to prevent similar issues from compromising web application security boundaries.