CVE-2004-0721 in Konqueror
Summary
by MITRE
Konqueror 3.1.3, 3.2.2, and possibly other versions does not properly prevent a frame in one domain from injecting content into a frame that belongs to another domain, which facilitates web site spoofing and other attacks, aka the frame injection vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-0721 represents a critical security flaw in Konqueror web browsers version 3.1.3, 3.2.2, and potentially other releases within the same series. This issue stems from the browser's inadequate enforcement of cross-domain security policies, specifically concerning frame handling and content injection mechanisms. The flaw allows malicious actors to exploit the browser's frame management system to inject content from one domain into frames belonging to different domains, creating a significant bypass of the browser's security model.
This vulnerability directly impacts the browser's implementation of the same-origin policy, which is a fundamental security mechanism designed to prevent scripts and frames from one origin from accessing resources of another origin. The frame injection flaw occurs when Konqueror fails to properly validate or restrict the cross-domain communication between embedded frames, enabling attackers to manipulate the content of frames that should be isolated from each other. The technical implementation appears to lack proper domain checking mechanisms when processing frame content, allowing unauthorized content injection across domain boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is substantial, as it enables sophisticated web site spoofing attacks that can deceive users into believing they are interacting with legitimate websites while actually being exposed to malicious content. Attackers can leverage this flaw to inject phishing content, redirect users to malicious sites, or display false information within frames that appear to belong to trusted domains. This creates a vector for social engineering attacks where users may unknowingly provide sensitive information or download malicious software. The vulnerability also facilitates man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers can manipulate frame content to intercept or alter user interactions with web applications.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which describes the weakness of allowing code injection through improper input validation. The flaw demonstrates a failure in implementing proper security controls for cross-domain frame management and content isolation. The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1531, which involves "Modify System Image" through the manipulation of web browser frame content to deceive users and compromise security. Organizations using affected Konqueror versions face significant risk of credential theft, data breaches, and other malicious activities that exploit this frame injection capability.
The recommended mitigation strategies include immediate upgrading to patched versions of Konqueror, implementing additional network-level security controls such as content filtering and web application firewalls, and educating users about recognizing potential spoofing attempts. Browser vendors should ensure proper implementation of cross-domain security policies and thorough testing of frame handling mechanisms to prevent similar vulnerabilities. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious frame content and implement security measures that can detect and prevent unauthorized content injection attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining current browser versions and applying security updates promptly to protect against known exploitation vectors.