CVE-2007-5158 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
The focus handling for the onkeydown event in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 allows remote attackers to change field focus and copy keystrokes via a certain use of a JavaScript htmlFor attribute, as demonstrated by changing focus from a textarea to a file upload field, a related issue to CVE-2007-3511.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2007-5158 represents a significant focus management flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0 that enables remote attackers to manipulate user interface elements through malicious javascript code. This issue specifically targets the onkeydown event handling mechanism and exploits the htmlFor attribute in javascript to gain unauthorized control over field focus within web forms. The flaw operates at the browser's event handling layer, where the improper validation of focus changes creates an attack surface that can be exploited by malicious actors to redirect user attention and capture keystrokes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability leverages the htmlFor attribute in javascript to manipulate focus behavior during keyboard events. When a user interacts with a webpage containing malicious javascript code, the attacker can use the htmlFor attribute to redirect focus from one form element to another, specifically from a textarea to a file upload field. This manipulation occurs during the onkeydown event processing, where the browser's focus management system fails to properly validate the legitimacy of focus changes initiated through javascript. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows attackers to capture sensitive input data that users might otherwise enter into secure fields, effectively bypassing normal security measures designed to protect user input.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5158 extends beyond simple keystroke capture, as it provides attackers with the capability to redirect user attention away from sensitive input areas and towards less secure elements. This focus redirection attack can be used to harvest passwords, personal identification information, or other sensitive data that users might enter into form fields. The vulnerability is closely related to CVE-2007-3511, which indicates a broader class of focus management issues affecting internet explorer's event handling system. Attackers can exploit this weakness to create sophisticated phishing attacks where they redirect users to file upload fields while maintaining focus on password fields, allowing them to capture login credentials without the user's knowledge.
This vulnerability aligns with multiple CWE categories including CWE-200 for information exposure and CWE-352 for cross-site request forgery, though primarily it represents a focus management issue that falls under CWE-1240 for improper focus handling in web browsers. The attack vector follows patterns consistent with the ATT&CK framework's T1056.001 technique for input injection and T1557.001 for credential access through keystroke logging. The vulnerability demonstrates how improper event handling in web browsers can create persistent security weaknesses that remain undetected for extended periods. Organizations using internet explorer 6.0 were particularly vulnerable as this browser version lacked proper validation of focus changes initiated through javascript attributes, creating a persistent attack surface that attackers could exploit to capture user credentials and sensitive data.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2007-5158 require immediate browser updates to patched versions of internet explorer, as well as implementation of additional security measures such as javascript sandboxing and enhanced focus validation. Organizations should also implement browser security policies that limit the use of potentially dangerous javascript attributes and regularly audit web applications for improper focus management. The vulnerability underscores the importance of proper event handling validation in web browsers and highlights how seemingly minor focus management flaws can create significant security risks. This issue contributed to the broader understanding of browser security vulnerabilities and helped drive improvements in focus management and event handling validation across web browser vendors.