CVE-2004-0905 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox before the Preview Release, Mozilla before 1.7.3, and Thunderbird before 0.8 allows remote attackers to perform cross-domain scripting and possibly execute arbitrary code by convincing a user to drag and drop javascript: links to a frame or page in another domain.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-domain scripting flaw that existed in Mozilla Firefox versions prior to the Preview Release, Mozilla versions before 1.7.3, and Thunderbird versions before 0.8. The vulnerability stems from inadequate security controls in the browser's handling of drag and drop operations, specifically when javascript: links are manipulated across domain boundaries. The flaw allows remote attackers to execute malicious code by tricking users into performing seemingly benign drag and drop actions that actually execute JavaScript code from different domains. This represents a classic cross-site scripting attack vector that bypasses traditional security mechanisms by leveraging the browser's legitimate user interaction features.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the browser's failure to properly validate and sanitize content during drag and drop operations. When users drag and drop javascript: links onto frames or pages belonging to different domains, the browser does not adequately enforce same-origin policies that normally prevent such cross-domain execution. This weakness falls under CWE-94, which describes the improper execution of code, specifically the execution of untrusted code through manipulation of user interaction patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates how legitimate browser features can be abused to circumvent security boundaries, creating a pathway for attackers to execute arbitrary code on victim systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables attackers to perform sophisticated attacks that could compromise user systems and data. Users could be tricked into dragging malicious JavaScript links that execute in the context of other domains, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or full system compromise. The attack requires social engineering to convince users to perform drag and drop actions, but once executed, it can bypass many traditional security controls. This vulnerability directly maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1555.003 for credential access through browser manipulation, representing a multi-stage attack that combines user interaction with code execution.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability involve implementing proper domain validation during drag and drop operations, enforcing stricter same-origin policies for JavaScript execution, and educating users about the risks of drag and drop operations with unknown content. Browser vendors should ensure that javascript: links cannot be executed during drag and drop operations, particularly when the target domain differs from the source. Additionally, implementing content security policies that prevent execution of JavaScript from external domains and providing users with clear warnings when performing cross-domain operations would significantly reduce the risk. The fix typically involves updating the browser's security model to properly validate and sanitize all content during drag and drop operations, ensuring that JavaScript execution is restricted to the same origin as the page where it was initiated.