CVE-2008-5506 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox 3.x before 3.0.5 and 2.x before 2.0.0.19, Thunderbird 2.x before 2.0.0.19, and SeaMonkey 1.x before 1.1.14 allows remote attackers to bypass the same origin policy by causing the browser to issue an XMLHttpRequest to an attacker-controlled resource that uses a 302 redirect to a resource in a different domain, then reading content from the response, aka "response disclosure."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/03/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in Mozilla's browser ecosystem that undermines fundamental web security mechanisms. The issue affects multiple Mozilla products including Firefox versions prior to 3.0.5 and 2.0.0.19, Thunderbird versions before 2.0.0.19, and SeaMonkey versions before 1.1.14. The vulnerability specifically targets the same origin policy implementation which serves as a cornerstone of web security by preventing scripts from accessing resources across different domains without proper authorization. This weakness allows attackers to circumvent browser security controls through a sophisticated redirection technique that exploits how XMLHttpRequest objects handle HTTP redirects.
The technical mechanism involves an attacker crafting a malicious scenario where a browser makes an XMLHttpRequest to a resource under their control that immediately responds with a 302 redirect to a target resource in a different domain. The browser follows this redirect automatically, but the vulnerability allows the original script to access and read the content from the redirected resource despite the cross-domain restrictions. This occurs because the XMLHttpRequest implementation fails to properly enforce cross-origin restrictions when handling HTTP redirects, creating a pathway for unauthorized data access. The flaw essentially allows attackers to perform cross-domain data exfiltration by leveraging the browser's automatic redirect handling behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables sophisticated cross-site data theft attacks that can compromise user privacy and sensitive information. Attackers can exploit this weakness to access content from other domains that would normally be restricted, potentially leading to credential theft, session hijacking, or exposure of confidential data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. This makes it a significant threat to web application security and user privacy, as it allows attackers to bypass the fundamental security boundaries that protect users from cross-site scripting attacks.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected browser versions, as Mozilla released updates addressing this specific issue in their respective software releases. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies to ensure all users have the latest security patches. Additionally, network administrators can deploy web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to detect and block suspicious redirect patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-284 which addresses improper access control, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol usage. Users should also maintain awareness of suspicious website behavior and avoid visiting untrusted sites that might attempt to exploit such vulnerabilities. Regular security audits and monitoring for unusual redirect patterns in web applications can help detect potential exploitation attempts.