CVE-2007-3110 in Beatnik Player
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Andy Frank Beatnik 1.0 extension for Firefox allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via an RSS feed. NOTE: the provenance of this information is unknown; the details are obtained solely from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/24/2017
The CVE-2007-3110 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Andy Frank Beatnik 1.0 Firefox extension, demonstrating how browser extensions can become attack vectors for malicious code execution. This vulnerability specifically affects users who have installed the Beatnik extension, which is designed to provide RSS feed aggregation and management capabilities within the Firefox browser environment. The flaw arises from insufficient input validation and output encoding mechanisms within the extension's processing of RSS feed data, creating a pathway for remote attackers to inject malicious scripts that can execute in the context of the user's browser session.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting as a weakness where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without proper sanitization or encoding. The Beatnik extension fails to adequately sanitize user-supplied RSS feed content, particularly when processing HTML elements or script tags that may be embedded within feed entries. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious RSS feeds containing embedded JavaScript or HTML payloads that get executed when the extension renders the feed content in the browser interface. This creates a persistent threat vector where users who subscribe to compromised feeds are automatically exposed to malicious code execution without any user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script injection, as it provides attackers with the ability to perform session hijacking, cookie theft, and data exfiltration from users' browsers. When a user accesses a compromised RSS feed through the vulnerable extension, the injected scripts can access the user's browsing context and potentially steal sensitive information such as authentication tokens, personal data, or even perform actions on behalf of the user within the browser environment. The attack surface is particularly concerning because RSS feeds are commonly subscribed to by users who may not be aware of the security implications of their feed sources, making this vulnerability exploitable through social engineering or by compromising feed providers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass multiple layers of protection, beginning with immediate extension updates or removals to prevent exploitation. Security professionals should implement content security policies that restrict script execution within browser extensions and establish monitoring for suspicious RSS feed activity. The ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" highlights how such vulnerabilities can be leveraged for persistent access, making proactive defense essential. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious RSS feed content, as well as educating users about the risks of subscribing to untrusted feed sources. Regular security assessments of browser extensions and maintaining up-to-date security patches for all browser components remain critical defensive measures against similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other extension ecosystems.