CVE-2008-1240 in SeaMonkey
Summary
by MITRE
LiveConnect in Mozilla Firefox before 2.0.0.13 and SeaMonkey before 1.1.9 does not properly parse the content origin for jar: URIs before sending them to the Java plugin, which allows remote attackers to access arbitrary ports on the local machine. NOTE: this is closely related to CVE-2008-1195.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/07/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-1240 represents a critical security flaw in the LiveConnect functionality of Mozilla Firefox and SeaMonkey web browsers. This issue stems from improper handling of jar: URI content origin parsing within the browser's Java plugin communication mechanism. The flaw exists in versions prior to Firefox 2.0.0.13 and SeaMonkey 1.1.9, creating a significant attack surface that could be exploited by remote adversaries. The vulnerability specifically targets the way browsers process jar: URIs which are used to reference Java archive files, and the improper parsing of these URIs allows malicious actors to bypass security restrictions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the LiveConnect bridge between JavaScript and Java within the browser environment. When a web page attempts to access Java applets through jar: URIs, the browser must properly validate the origin of these resources before allowing communication with the Java plugin. The flaw occurs in the content origin validation process where jar: URIs are not correctly parsed to determine their actual source and destination. This parsing failure creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate the URI structure in such a way that the Java plugin receives malformed or unauthorized origin information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows remote attackers to access arbitrary ports on the local machine, effectively bypassing the normal network security boundaries that should protect local services from external access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation or data theft. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform port scanning, service enumeration, and potentially gain access to sensitive local services that should remain isolated from network-based attacks. The ability to access arbitrary local ports means that malicious actors could target services running on standard ports such as SSH, HTTP, or database services that might be configured to listen locally. This vulnerability essentially provides a backdoor mechanism for attackers to bypass traditional network security controls and directly interact with local applications. The connection to CVE-2008-1195 indicates this represents part of a broader class of issues affecting Java plugin security in web browsers, highlighting systemic problems in how browsers handle cross-language security boundaries.
This vulnerability aligns with several CWE classifications including CWE-200 Information Exposure and CWE-264 Permissions, Privileges, and Access Controls, demonstrating the fundamental security principle violations in how the browser handles resource access. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and lateral movement through local service access. The flaw essentially creates a persistent attack vector that could be exploited in various scenarios including social engineering campaigns where users might unknowingly visit malicious websites that trigger the exploit. Organizations should note that this vulnerability affects not just individual user systems but represents a potential vector for more sophisticated attacks that could compromise entire local network infrastructures. The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of affected browser versions and implementation of network-based controls to monitor and restrict access to local services that might be exposed through such vulnerabilities.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the complexity of modern browser security architectures and the challenges of maintaining secure cross-language communication. The LiveConnect mechanism represents a bridge between different security domains, and failures in this bridge can have cascading effects on overall system security. This vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and the need for robust security boundaries even within seemingly isolated application components. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of a larger threat landscape that includes similar issues in Java plugin implementations and other browser-based security mechanisms that attempt to bridge different execution environments.