CVE-2008-2947 in Internet Explorer
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-domain vulnerability in Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.01 SP4, 6, and 7 allows remote attackers to access restricted information from other domains via JavaScript that uses the Object data type for the value of a (1) location or (2) location.href property, related to incorrect determination of the origin of web script, aka "Window Location Property Cross-Domain Vulnerability." NOTE: according to Microsoft, CVE-2008-2948 and CVE-2008-2949 are duplicates of this issue, probably different attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/05/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-2947 represents a critical cross-domain security flaw in Microsoft Internet Explorer versions 5.01 SP4, 6, and 7 that fundamentally undermines the browser's security model. This issue stems from improper handling of the window.location and window.location.href properties when JavaScript objects are used as values, creating a pathway for malicious actors to bypass domain isolation mechanisms that are essential for web security. The vulnerability specifically targets the origin determination process that browsers use to enforce cross-domain restrictions, allowing attackers to access sensitive information from different domains than intended.
The technical implementation of this flaw occurs when JavaScript code attempts to assign an Object data type value to either the location or location.href property of a window object. This manipulation causes Internet Explorer to incorrectly identify the origin of the script, effectively allowing cross-domain information disclosure. The vulnerability operates at the core of browser security architecture where the Same-Origin Policy should prevent unauthorized access between different domains, but the flawed implementation permits malicious scripts to circumvent these protections. This behavior creates a persistent security gap that enables attackers to gather information that should remain isolated within its originating domain.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform cross-domain data exfiltration and potentially execute more sophisticated attacks. Attackers can leverage this flaw to access cookies, session information, and other sensitive data from different domains, effectively breaking down the security boundaries that separate user sessions and protected resources. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple IE versions indicates a fundamental architectural issue rather than a simple coding error, making it particularly dangerous as it affects a wide range of legacy systems still in use. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors, including phishing campaigns and malicious websites that manipulate the browser's origin determination logic.
Organizations affected by this vulnerability should implement immediate mitigations including browser updates to versions that address the flaw, implementation of strict content security policies, and deployment of web application firewalls to monitor and block suspicious cross-domain requests. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and can be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1071.001 for application layer protocol and T1566 for credential access through social engineering. Additional protective measures include disabling JavaScript in sensitive contexts, implementing proper origin validation on server-side applications, and conducting regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation attempts. Given the age of the affected browser versions, the most effective long-term solution involves complete migration away from unsupported Internet Explorer versions to modern browsers with robust security implementations.