CVE-2009-4975 in QtDemoBrowser
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in webview.cpp in QtDemoBrowser allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via a URL associated with a nonexistent domain name, related to a "universal XSS" issue, a similar vulnerability to CVE-2010-2536.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/12/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-4975 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the QtDemoBrowser application's webview.cpp component. This issue arises from improper input validation and sanitization of URL parameters, specifically when handling domain names that do not exist within the application's intended scope. The vulnerability manifests when attackers craft malicious URLs containing script code that gets executed in the context of the victim's browser session, creating a persistent threat vector that can be exploited across multiple user interactions.
The technical implementation of this flaw stems from the application's failure to properly sanitize URL parameters before rendering them within the webview component. When a user navigates to a URL containing a nonexistent domain name, the QtDemoBrowser application processes this input without adequate filtering mechanisms, allowing malicious script code embedded within the URL structure to be executed. This behavior creates a universal XSS condition where the vulnerability is not limited to specific input contexts but can be triggered across various application functions that process URL-based inputs, making it particularly dangerous and difficult to mitigate completely.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution, as it can enable attackers to perform session hijacking, steal sensitive user data, redirect victims to malicious sites, and potentially execute arbitrary commands within the victim's browser context. The "universal XSS" nature of this vulnerability means that the attack surface is significantly broader than typical XSS flaws, as the same exploit can potentially work across multiple functions and interfaces within the QtDemoBrowser application. This characteristic aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the web application attack categories, particularly those related to client-side exploitation and credential theft.
Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of CWE-79, which specifically addresses cross-site scripting flaws in web applications. The flaw demonstrates a classic lack of input validation and output encoding that has been consistently identified as a primary weakness in web applications. Organizations using QtDemoBrowser or similar Qt-based applications should implement immediate mitigations including comprehensive URL parameter sanitization, implementing Content Security Policy headers, and deploying proper input validation routines. The vulnerability's similarity to CVE-2010-2536 indicates a pattern of flawed URL handling within Qt applications that requires systematic review and remediation across all components that process external URL inputs to prevent similar exploitation vectors from being leveraged in other parts of the application ecosystem.