CVE-2004-0779 in Firebird
Summary
by MITRE
The (1) Mozilla 1.6, (2) Firebird 0.7 and (3) Firefox 0.8 web browsers do not properly verify that cached passwords for SSL encrypted sites are only sent via SSL encrypted sessions to the site, which allows a remote attacker to cause a cached password to be sent in cleartext to a spoofed site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in early versions of major web browsers including Mozilla 1.6, Firebird 0.7, and Firefox 0.8. The issue stems from inadequate validation mechanisms that fail to properly verify the security context of cached credentials during SSL session handling. When users navigate to SSL-encrypted websites and their browsers cache login credentials, the affected browsers do not adequately ensure that these cached passwords are only transmitted through secure SSL connections to the legitimate site. This weakness creates a significant attack vector where malicious actors can exploit the browser's trust model to redirect traffic to spoofed domains while still transmitting cached credentials in cleartext.
The technical implementation flaw manifests in the browser's credential management system where it fails to validate the SSL certificate chain or verify that the destination server matches the originally cached secure session. This behavior violates fundamental security principles for credential handling and session management, creating a scenario where legitimate user credentials can be intercepted and exploited. The vulnerability operates at the application layer and specifically targets the SSL/TLS session resumption mechanism, where cached session parameters are improperly validated before credential transmission occurs. This issue directly relates to CWE-312, which addresses the exposure of sensitive information through cleartext storage or transmission, and CWE-319, which covers the exposure of sensitive information through improper SSL/TLS usage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables man-in-the-middle attacks and credential theft without requiring complex exploitation techniques. Attackers can leverage this weakness by setting up spoofed websites that mimic legitimate domains, tricking users into visiting these malicious sites while the browser automatically transmits cached SSL credentials in cleartext. This creates an environment where attackers can intercept authentication tokens, passwords, and other sensitive session data without requiring user interaction beyond visiting compromised websites. The vulnerability essentially undermines the security guarantees provided by SSL encryption, allowing attackers to bypass the very protection mechanisms that should prevent credential interception.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve immediate browser updates to patched versions that properly validate SSL session contexts before transmitting cached credentials. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect unusual credential transmission patterns and deploy SSL certificate pinning mechanisms where possible. Browser vendors should enhance their credential management systems to enforce strict validation of destination server certificates before credential transmission. Security professionals should also consider implementing network-based controls such as web application firewalls that can detect and block cleartext credential transmission attempts. This vulnerability highlights the importance of proper session management and credential validation in web browsers, emphasizing the need for robust security measures that prevent the leakage of sensitive information even when users believe they are operating within secure connections. The issue demonstrates how seemingly minor flaws in credential handling can create significant security risks that compromise user authentication and data protection mechanisms.