CVE-2006-6985 in Maxthon
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-domain vulnerability in Maxthon 1.5.6 build 42 allows remote attackers to access restricted information from other domains via an object tag with a data parameter that references a link on the attacker s originating site that specifies a Location HTTP header that references the target site, which then makes that content available through the outerHTML attribute of the object, a similar vulnerability to CVE-2006-3280.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/19/2018
This vulnerability represents a sophisticated cross-domain information disclosure flaw in Maxthon browser version 1.5.6 build 42 that exploits the browser's handling of object tags and HTTP headers to bypass security boundaries. The vulnerability operates through a carefully crafted attack vector where an attacker constructs an object tag with a data parameter pointing to a malicious link on their own domain. This link includes a specially crafted Location HTTP header that redirects to the target site, allowing the attacker to leverage the browser's outerHTML attribute to extract content from the target domain. The attack leverages the browser's trust model and improper validation of cross-domain content references, creating a pathway for unauthorized data access that violates fundamental web security principles.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the browser's insufficient validation of object tag parameters and HTTP header processing within the context of cross-domain requests. When the browser encounters an object tag with a data parameter, it processes the referenced content without adequate cross-domain security checks. The Location HTTP header manipulation allows the attacker to redirect the browser's request to a target domain while maintaining the original context, enabling the subsequent outerHTML attribute access to expose sensitive information. This flaw demonstrates a classic violation of the same-origin policy, where the browser fails to enforce proper isolation between different domains, creating an information leakage channel that can be exploited to access restricted resources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks including credential theft, session hijacking, and data exfiltration. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to access sensitive content from other domains that would normally be protected by cross-domain security restrictions, effectively bypassing the browser's security model. The similarity to CVE-2006-3280 indicates this represents a broader class of vulnerabilities in web browsers where object handling and HTTP header processing create security boundaries that can be circumvented through clever manipulation of request parameters and response headers. This vulnerability affects users who may encounter malicious content on websites they visit, particularly those with access to sensitive corporate or personal data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require both immediate browser updates and defensive coding practices. Users should immediately upgrade to patched versions of Maxthon browser that address this cross-domain access issue, while administrators should implement proper web application security controls including content security policies and strict validation of object tag parameters. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper HTTP header handling and object parameter validation in preventing cross-domain information leakage. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious object tag usage patterns. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200 (Information Exposure) and demonstrates techniques that could be categorized under ATT&CK tactic TA0011 (Command and Control) through the use of malicious web content to establish unauthorized access to target systems. The attack pattern emphasizes the need for comprehensive browser security models that properly enforce cross-domain restrictions and validate all content references regardless of their origin.