CVE-2008-4697 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
The Fast Forward feature in Opera before 9.61, when a page is located in a frame, executes a javascript: URL in the context of the outermost page instead of the page that contains this URL, which allows remote attackers to conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4697 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the Opera web browser's Fast Forward feature. This security issue affects Opera versions prior to 9.61 and stems from improper handling of javascript: URLs within framed web pages. The flaw occurs when a webpage is embedded within an iframe or frame structure, creating a complex context hierarchy that the browser fails to properly manage during URL execution. This mismanagement creates a dangerous privilege escalation scenario where malicious javascript: URLs intended for a specific frame are instead executed in the context of the top-level parent page, fundamentally altering the security boundaries that should protect user sessions and data.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's URL handling mechanism failing to maintain proper context isolation between nested frames. When a javascript: URL is encountered within a framed document, the Fast Forward feature incorrectly resolves the execution context to the outermost page rather than the frame containing the URL. This behavior violates fundamental web security principles and creates a pathway for attackers to inject malicious scripts that can access the parent page's DOM, cookies, and other sensitive resources. The vulnerability specifically leverages the frame navigation and context switching mechanisms that Opera employs to handle URL redirections, particularly in scenarios involving javascript protocol handlers.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables sophisticated cross-site scripting attacks that can bypass traditional security measures implemented by web applications. Attackers can craft malicious web pages containing javascript: URLs that, when processed through Opera's Fast Forward feature, execute in the context of the parent page rather than the intended frame. This creates opportunities for session hijacking, data theft, and privilege escalation attacks that can compromise user accounts and access sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates silently without user interaction, making it difficult to detect and defend against through conventional means. The flaw affects the browser's core security model and undermines the isolation guarantees that frame-based web page structures are designed to provide.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-4697 primarily focus on updating to Opera 9.61 or later versions where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved context management and URL execution handling. System administrators should prioritize immediate deployment of security patches and updates to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. Additionally, implementing robust content security policies can help mitigate the impact of similar vulnerabilities by restricting the execution of inline scripts and controlling the sources from which javascript can be loaded. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting flaws, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with techniques used in the attack phase of the kill chain as outlined in the ATT&CK framework. Organizations should also consider implementing web application firewalls and browser security extensions that can detect and block malicious javascript: URL patterns. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and understanding the complex security implications of web page navigation and context handling mechanisms.