CVE-2005-2268 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Firefox before 1.0.5 and Mozilla before 1.7.9 does not clearly associate a Javascript dialog box with the web page that generated it, which allows remote attackers to spoof a dialog box from a trusted site and facilitates phishing attacks, aka the "Dialog Origin Spoofing Vulnerability."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2021
The dialog origin spoofing vulnerability identified as CVE-2005-2268 represents a critical security flaw in web browser implementations that undermines user trust and facilitates sophisticated phishing attacks. This vulnerability affects Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 1.0.5 and Mozilla Suite versions prior to 1.7.9, demonstrating how browser security mechanisms can be circumvented through improper handling of user interface elements. The flaw specifically relates to the browser's inability to properly associate JavaScript dialog boxes with their originating web pages, creating a fundamental breakdown in the user authentication process that attackers can exploit to deceive users into believing they are interacting with legitimate websites.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the browser's dialog box handling mechanism failing to maintain proper origin tracking for JavaScript-generated alerts, confirmations, and prompts. When a web page triggers a JavaScript dialog box, the browser should clearly indicate the domain or origin of the requesting page to the user. However, in affected versions, this association becomes ambiguous or can be manipulated by attackers. This weakness falls under CWE-613, which addresses insufficient session management, and specifically relates to improper handling of user interface elements that should maintain clear security boundaries. The vulnerability enables attackers to craft malicious web pages that generate dialog boxes appearing to originate from trusted domains such as banks, social media platforms, or email services, making it particularly dangerous for phishing campaigns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple user confusion, as it directly enables sophisticated social engineering attacks that can bypass user security awareness and browser security models. Attackers can exploit this flaw to create convincing phishing dialog boxes that appear to come from legitimate websites, potentially capturing sensitive information such as login credentials, personal data, or financial information. The vulnerability creates a trust boundary violation that undermines the fundamental security model of web browsers, where users rely on visual cues and origin indicators to make security decisions. This issue particularly affects phishing campaigns because it removes the user's ability to verify the true origin of dialog boxes, making it significantly easier for attackers to deceive victims into performing actions that would otherwise be suspicious.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require both immediate browser updates and enhanced user education about security indicators. The primary solution involves upgrading to Firefox 1.0.5 or Mozilla Suite 1.7.9, which implemented proper dialog origin tracking and clear association mechanisms. Security researchers recommend that users regularly update their browsers to maintain protection against known vulnerabilities, as this particular flaw demonstrates how subtle interface implementation issues can create significant security risks. Organizations should also implement security awareness training to help users recognize potential phishing attempts, even when dialog boxes appear legitimate. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining comprehensive security testing that includes user interface elements, as these components often serve as the primary user interaction points for security warnings and alerts. This case study emphasizes the need for robust input validation and proper security boundary enforcement in all browser components, not just core functionality, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering tactics including phishing through deceptive user interfaces.