CVE-2005-4684 in Konqueror
Summary
by MITRE
Konqueror can associate a cookie with multiple domains when the DNS resolver has a non-root domain in its search list, which allows remote attackers to trick a user into accepting a cookie for a hostname formed via search-list expansion of the hostname entered by the user, or steal a cookie for an expanded hostname, as demonstrated by an attacker who operates an ap1.com Internet web site to steal cookies associated with an ap1.com.example.com intranet web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/16/2018
This vulnerability exists in Konqueror web browser's handling of cookies and domain resolution, specifically when the system's DNS resolver configuration includes a non-root domain in its search list. The flaw stems from how Konqueror processes cookie domain attributes during HTTP response handling, creating a security risk through improper domain validation. When users enter a hostname that requires DNS search list expansion, the browser incorrectly associates cookies with multiple domains, effectively bypassing standard cookie security mechanisms that are designed to prevent cross-site cookie access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the interaction between DNS search list resolution and HTTP cookie domain matching. When Konqueror encounters a request for a hostname that does not include a full domain suffix, it relies on the system's DNS resolver configuration to complete the domain resolution. If the search list contains non-root domains such as 'example.com', the resolver will attempt to expand the hostname by appending these search domains. The browser then incorrectly treats the expanded hostname as a valid domain for cookie association, allowing cookies to be set or accessed across different domain boundaries than intended.
This vulnerability enables several attack vectors that can be leveraged by remote attackers to perform session hijacking or cross-site request forgery attacks. An attacker who controls a domain in the DNS search list can manipulate cookie behavior to steal session tokens or sensitive data from internal networks that use similar hostname patterns. The specific demonstration shows how an attacker operating a website at ap1.com can steal cookies associated with an internal site at ap1.com.example.com, effectively bypassing the security boundary between internal and external network resources. This represents a classic case of improper input validation and domain handling that violates fundamental web security principles.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple cookie theft to potentially enable broader security breaches within network environments. Attackers can exploit this weakness to perform man-in-the-middle attacks, session fixation, or credential theft against users accessing both internal and external resources. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where internal network domains often follow predictable naming conventions and DNS search lists may include corporate domains. This flaw represents a violation of the Same-Origin Policy and demonstrates a failure in the browser's cookie security implementation, as outlined in CWE-295 for improper certificate validation and CWE-345 for insufficient validation of data integrity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require both browser-level fixes and network configuration adjustments. Browser vendors should implement proper domain validation that prevents cookie association across different domain levels when DNS search list expansion occurs, ensuring that cookies are only set for exact domain matches or appropriate parent domains. System administrators should review and restrict DNS search list configurations to minimize the exposure of internal domain names in public DNS resolution contexts. Network segmentation and proper firewall rules can help isolate internal and external network traffic, reducing the attack surface for such exploits. Additionally, implementing proper cookie security attributes such as Secure and HttpOnly flags can provide additional protection layers against exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1584 for credential access and T1071 for application layer protocol usage, highlighting the need for comprehensive security controls across multiple attack vectors.