CVE-2005-0401 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
FireFox 1.0.1 and Mozilla before 1.7.6 do not sufficiently address all attack vectors for loading chrome files and hijacking drag and drop events, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary XUL code by tricking a user into dragging a scrollbar, a variant of CVE-2005-0527, aka "Firescrolling 2."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-0401 represents a critical security flaw in Firefox 1.0.1 and Mozilla browsers prior to version 1.7.6 that stems from inadequate protection against chrome file loading and drag and drop event hijacking. This vulnerability operates under the broader category of cross-site scripting attacks and falls under the CWE-74 standard for injection flaws, specifically targeting the manipulation of user interface elements within the browser's chrome layer. The flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary XUL (XML User Interface Language) code through deceptive user interaction patterns that exploit the browser's handling of drag and drop operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of chrome resources within the browser's privileged environment, where attackers can craft malicious content that appears benign to users but triggers harmful code execution. The attack vector specifically targets the scrollbar element as a delivery mechanism for malicious XUL code, leveraging the browser's insufficient validation of drag and drop events that occur within the chrome context. This creates a scenario where legitimate user actions such as dragging scrollbars can be hijacked to load and execute unauthorized code within the browser's privileged scope, effectively bypassing standard security boundaries that separate user content from browser internals.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass complete browser compromise, as the loaded XUL code operates with elevated privileges typically reserved for browser chrome components. This allows attackers to perform actions such as modifying browser interfaces, intercepting user input, accessing sensitive data, and potentially escalating privileges to gain deeper system access. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter demonstrates how this flaw enables persistent access through script-based attacks that can be maintained across browser sessions.
The security implications of this vulnerability are particularly severe due to its ability to exploit user trust through seemingly innocuous interactions with browser UI elements. Users are typically unaware that dragging a scrollbar can trigger code execution, making this attack vector particularly effective for social engineering campaigns. The vulnerability's relationship to CVE-2005-0527 demonstrates a pattern of similar flaws in browser security implementations where UI element manipulation can be used to bypass security controls. Mitigation strategies must include comprehensive input validation of drag and drop events, stricter enforcement of chrome resource access controls, and user interface element sanitization to prevent unauthorized code loading. Browser vendors should implement robust sandboxing mechanisms that prevent chrome file loading from untrusted sources and establish stricter policies around XUL code execution within user interaction contexts.