CVE-2005-2267 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Firefox before 1.0.5 allows remote attackers to steal information and possibly execute arbitrary code by using standalone applications such as Flash and QuickTime to open a javascript: URL, which is run in the context of the previous page, and may lead to code execution if the standalone application loads a privileged chrome: URL.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/07/2019
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-origin security flaw in Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 1.0.5 that exploits the interaction between web browsers and standalone media applications. The issue stems from how Firefox handled javascript: URLs when invoked through external applications like Adobe Flash and Apple QuickTime, creating an unexpected execution context that bypassed normal security boundaries. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-154 as it involves improper handling of privileged operations through external interfaces, specifically leveraging the trust relationship between browser and external applications.
The technical exploitation occurs when a standalone application such as Flash or QuickTime processes a javascript: URL that was initiated from a different domain context. These external applications execute the javascript: URL within the context of the previous page rather than in a sandboxed environment, potentially allowing malicious code to access privileged chrome: URLs that should normally be restricted to the browser's own components. This creates a privilege escalation scenario where untrusted content can execute with elevated permissions, effectively bypassing the same-origin policy that normally protects users from cross-site scripting attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows remote attackers to perform information theft and potentially achieve arbitrary code execution on affected systems. Attackers can craft malicious web pages that, when viewed through vulnerable Firefox installations, will trigger the exploitation chain through embedded Flash or QuickTime content. The vulnerability can be leveraged to access sensitive user data, manipulate browser state, or execute malicious payloads with the privileges of the browser process itself. This represents a significant threat to user privacy and system integrity, as the attack vector can be delivered through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability include updating to Firefox 1.0.5 or later versions where Mozilla implemented proper context isolation for javascript: URLs, ensuring that external applications cannot execute code in the browser's privileged context. Organizations should also implement network-level protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls to prevent access to known malicious sites. Additionally, users should maintain awareness of the risks associated with viewing content from untrusted sources and avoid visiting suspicious websites. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper sandboxing and context management in browser security architectures, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for scripting and T1566 for phishing attacks that leverage browser vulnerabilities. This case highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of browser-external application interactions and proper implementation of security boundaries between different execution contexts.