CVE-2008-6512 in Gears
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-domain vulnerability in the WorkerPool API in Google Gears before 0.5.4.2 allows remote attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy and the intended access restrictions of the allowCrossOrigin function by hosting an assumed-safe file type containing Google Gear commands on the target domain, then accessing that file from the attacking domain, whose response headers are not checked and cause the worker code to run in the target domain.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/03/2018
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-6512 represents a critical cross-domain security flaw within Google Gears WorkerPool API implementation prior to version 0.5.4.2. This issue fundamentally undermines the browser's Same Origin Policy enforcement mechanism, which serves as a cornerstone of web security by preventing malicious code from accessing resources across different domains without proper authorization. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector that exploits the trust model surrounding file type assumptions and the lack of proper header validation during cross-domain resource access.
The technical flaw manifests when an attacker hosts a file with a seemingly benign extension on a target domain that contains Google Gears commands. This file, when accessed from an attacking domain, bypasses the intended security restrictions imposed by the allowCrossOrigin function. The vulnerability stems from the WorkerPool API's failure to properly validate response headers and verify the origin of cross-domain requests, allowing malicious JavaScript code to execute within the context of the target domain. This creates a dangerous privilege escalation scenario where code from one domain can effectively impersonate another domain's security boundaries.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond simple cross-domain data access. Attackers can leverage this flaw to perform unauthorized operations on behalf of users within the target domain, potentially accessing sensitive data, executing malicious commands, or establishing persistent backdoors. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates silently without user interaction, making detection extremely difficult. The attack requires minimal sophistication and can be automated, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to exploit web applications that rely on Google Gears for client-side functionality. This vulnerability directly violates the fundamental security principle of isolation between different origins and can lead to complete compromise of user sessions and data.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Google Gears implementations to version 0.5.4.2 or later, which properly enforces cross-origin restrictions and validates response headers. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as Content Security Policy headers to restrict cross-domain resource access, monitor for suspicious file uploads on web applications, and conduct regular security audits of client-side code. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-94, which covers "Improper Control of Generation of Code," and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" as attackers can leverage this flaw to execute malicious JavaScript in target domains. Security teams should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect unusual cross-domain request patterns and ensure that all client-side libraries are kept up to date with the latest security patches to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other components.