CVE-2007-1085 in Google
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in Google Desktop allows remote attackers to bypass protection schemes and inject arbitrary web script or HTML, and possibly gain full access to the system, by using an XSS vulnerability in google.com to extract the signature for the internal web server, then calling the "under" parameter in Advanced Search with the proper signature.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-1085 represents a sophisticated cross-site scripting attack that exploits weaknesses in Google Desktop's security model to potentially achieve full system compromise. This vulnerability operates through a multi-stage attack vector that combines client-side scripting with server-side signature extraction techniques. The flaw exists within the Google Desktop application's handling of web requests and its interaction with google.com's web services, creating an exploitable pathway for remote attackers to bypass traditional security protections. The vulnerability specifically targets the application's inability to properly validate and sanitize input parameters, particularly when processing requests from the internal web server that Google Desktop hosts locally on the victim's machine.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the fact that Google Desktop maintains an internal web server that handles various operations and communications with external services. Attackers can exploit the XSS vulnerability present in google.com's web interface to extract authentication signatures or tokens that are used by the internal Google Desktop web server. This extraction process typically involves injecting malicious scripts that can access the browser's local storage or other mechanisms that store authentication credentials. Once the signature is obtained, the attacker can construct malicious requests that utilize the "under" parameter in Advanced Search functionality, which accepts user-supplied input that is not properly sanitized or validated before being processed by the internal server. This parameter handling represents a classic example of unsafe input processing that falls under CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting vulnerabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code within the context of the user's session on the Google Desktop application. The internal web server operates with elevated privileges and access to the user's local system resources, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability from a privilege escalation perspective. When combined with the ability to extract authentication signatures, attackers can potentially gain complete control over the victim's system, including access to local files, system configuration, and other sensitive data. The vulnerability's exploitation requires a specific sequence of actions that demonstrates a sophisticated understanding of both web application security and the internal architecture of Google Desktop. The attack chain involves initial access through the external XSS vulnerability, followed by signature extraction, and finally leveraging the internal parameter handling to execute malicious code with system-level privileges.
The attack pattern aligns with several techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to credential access and privilege escalation. The initial compromise through the external XSS vulnerability maps to technique T1078 for valid accounts and T1531 for lateral movement. The signature extraction and internal parameter manipulation demonstrates techniques for privilege escalation and persistence, including T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation and T1059 for command and scripting interpreter. Organizations should note that this vulnerability represents a classic example of how seemingly isolated security flaws can combine to create significant attack vectors. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and the need for comprehensive security testing of applications that host internal web services. The flaw demonstrates how client-side vulnerabilities can be leveraged to attack server-side components, particularly when applications fail to implement proper security boundaries between different execution contexts.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require a multi-layered approach that addresses both the immediate XSS exposure and the broader architectural issues. Organizations should implement strict input validation and output encoding for all parameters processed by internal web servers, particularly those that accept user-supplied input. The implementation of content security policies and proper sanitization of all web request parameters can prevent the execution of malicious scripts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing network segmentation to isolate internal web services from external attack surfaces and implement proper authentication mechanisms that do not rely on easily extractable signatures. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and penetration testing to identify similar weaknesses in application architectures. Organizations should ensure that internal web servers maintain proper access controls and that authentication tokens are not easily accessible through client-side scripting vulnerabilities. The implementation of proper logging and monitoring for unusual parameter usage patterns can help detect exploitation attempts, while regular updates and patches to applications can prevent known vulnerabilities from being exploited.