CVE-2005-2269 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Firefox before 1.0.5, Mozilla before 1.7.9, and Netscape 8.0.2 does not properly verify the associated types of DOM node names within the context of their namespaces, which allows remote attackers to modify certain tag properties, possibly leading to execution of arbitrary script or code, as demonstrated using an XHTML document with IMG tags with custom properties ("XHTML node spoofing").
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/05/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical DOM node name verification flaw that existed in major web browsers including Firefox versions prior to 1.0.5, Mozilla versions before 1.7.9, and Netscape 8.0.2. The issue stems from insufficient validation of namespace-associated types during DOM node name processing, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the browser's parsing mechanisms. The vulnerability specifically affects how browsers handle XHTML documents where custom properties are attached to IMG tags, allowing attackers to manipulate the underlying DOM structure through carefully crafted node names that bypass normal verification procedures. This flaw falls under the CWE-264 weakness category, which encompasses permissions, privileges, and access control issues, as it enables unauthorized modification of document structure elements that should remain protected from external manipulation.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through XHTML node spoofing techniques where attackers construct malicious documents containing IMG tags with custom properties that exploit the namespace verification gap. When the browser processes these documents, it fails to properly validate the node name types within their respective namespaces, allowing the attacker to modify critical tag properties that control how elements are rendered and executed. This creates a potential code execution vector where malicious scripts can be injected into the browser context, particularly when the browser's security model assumes certain node properties will remain consistent with their expected namespace definitions. The vulnerability demonstrates a fundamental flaw in the browser's XML namespace handling and DOM node validation mechanisms that should have prevented such property modifications from occurring in the first place.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple document manipulation to potentially enable full code execution within the browser's security context. Attackers could leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary scripts, access sensitive user data, or perform cross-site scripting attacks against unsuspecting users who visit compromised web pages. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in web environments where users may encounter malicious XHTML documents through email attachments, compromised websites, or social engineering campaigns. This type of attack maps to the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as it allows for script execution through browser-based vectors, and T1566 for phishing, since the exploitation often occurs through deceptive web content. The attack surface is significant given that these affected browsers were widely used and the vulnerability could be triggered through standard web browsing activities without requiring special user interaction beyond visiting a malicious page.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate browser updates to patch the namespace verification logic and ensure proper validation of DOM node names within their associated namespaces. Organizations should have implemented browser security policies that enforced automatic updates and restricted access to untrusted web content. The fix involved strengthening the namespace validation routines to properly verify node name types before allowing property modifications, ensuring that custom properties attached to elements like IMG tags could not override fundamental DOM behavior. Additionally, web developers should have implemented proper input sanitization for XHTML content and avoided relying on browser-specific behaviors that could be exploited through namespace manipulation. This vulnerability highlighted the importance of robust namespace handling in XML parsers and underscored the need for comprehensive security testing of DOM manipulation features in web browsers. The remediation process required careful attention to ensure that namespace validation did not break legitimate web applications while providing sufficient protection against the exploitation vector.