CVE-2008-3172 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Opera allows web sites to set cookies for country-specific top-level domains that have DNS A records, such as co.tv, which could allow remote attackers to perform a session fixation attack and hijack a user s HTTP session, aka "Cross-Site Cooking."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/22/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-3172 represents a significant session management flaw in the Opera web browser that stems from improper handling of cookies for country-specific top-level domains. This issue specifically affects domains ending in suffixes like co.tv, which are classified as country-code top-level domains but contain DNS A records that make them accessible to web servers. The vulnerability allows malicious websites to set cookies for these domains, creating a dangerous condition where session identifiers can be manipulated across different contexts. This flaw operates under the broader category of cross-site scripting and session management vulnerabilities that have been documented in various security frameworks including CWE-384, which addresses session management weaknesses in web applications.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves Opera's cookie handling behavior when processing domain names that contain both country-code top-level domains and valid DNS records. When a website attempts to set a cookie for a domain like example.co.tv, Opera incorrectly processes this request by treating the domain as a valid target for cookie setting, despite the fact that such domains should typically be restricted from accepting cookies due to their country-code nature. This behavior creates a scenario where attackers can exploit the browser's inconsistent cookie domain validation logic to establish persistent session identifiers that can be used across different sites or contexts. The flaw essentially allows for what security researchers term "cookie poisoning" where malicious actors can manipulate session cookies to maintain access to user accounts or perform unauthorized actions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is particularly severe as it enables attackers to conduct session fixation attacks that can lead to complete user account compromise and unauthorized access to sensitive data. An attacker could potentially set a cookie for a country-specific domain that matches a user's current session identifier, then redirect the user to a legitimate site where the malicious cookie would be accepted and used to hijack the active session. This attack vector is especially dangerous because it leverages the trust relationship between browsers and websites, allowing malicious actors to bypass standard security measures that would normally prevent such cross-domain cookie manipulation. The vulnerability creates a persistent threat that can remain active until the user explicitly clears their cookies or closes their browser session, making it particularly effective for long-term surveillance and unauthorized access operations.
From a mitigation perspective, this vulnerability highlights the importance of proper cookie domain validation and the need for web browsers to implement strict policies regarding cookie setting for country-code domains. Security professionals should implement network-level protections such as cookie security policies that prevent setting cookies for domains lacking proper DNS resolution or those that are known to be country-specific. The mitigation strategy should also include user education about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of regularly clearing browser cookies and cache. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious cookie setting patterns, and security frameworks like the OWASP Top Ten should be referenced to understand the broader context of session management vulnerabilities. This issue demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining consistent security policies across all aspects of web browser functionality, particularly around cookie handling and domain validation. The vulnerability also underscores the need for regular security assessments of browser behavior and adherence to established security standards such as those defined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO/IEC 27001 for proper information security management.