CVE-2010-0170 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox 3.6 before 3.6.2 does not offer plugins the expected window.location protection mechanism, which might allow remote attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy and conduct cross-site scripting (XSS) attacks via vectors that are specific to each affected plugin.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-0170 represents a critical security flaw in Mozilla Firefox version 3.6 prior to 3.6.2 that fundamentally undermines the browser's security model. This issue specifically targets the window.location protection mechanism that plugins rely upon to enforce the same origin policy, which is a cornerstone of web security. The same origin policy prevents scripts from one origin from accessing resources or data from another origin, thereby creating essential boundaries that protect users from malicious cross-site attacks. When this protection mechanism fails, it creates a dangerous pathway for attackers to circumvent these fundamental security controls.
The technical flaw manifests in how Firefox handles plugin interactions with the window.location object, which is designed to provide a security boundary that plugins cannot easily bypass. In affected versions, plugins can manipulate or access window.location data in ways that should be restricted by the same origin policy, effectively allowing malicious actors to execute cross-site scripting attacks. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages plugin-specific attack vectors, meaning that different plugins may be exploited in distinct manners depending on their implementation and how they interact with the browser's security mechanisms. The flaw essentially creates a loophole where plugins can bypass the normal security checks that should prevent them from accessing or manipulating data from different origins.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows remote attackers to perform sophisticated cross-site scripting attacks without requiring user interaction or specific exploitation conditions. Attackers can leverage this weakness to inject malicious scripts into web pages, potentially stealing session cookies, performing unauthorized actions on behalf of users, or accessing sensitive information from other domains. The attack surface expands considerably since multiple plugins can be targeted, each potentially offering different exploitation paths. This vulnerability directly violates the core security principle of isolation between different origins and can lead to complete browser compromise when combined with other attack vectors.
Security researchers have classified this issue under CWE-200, which deals with information exposure, and it aligns with ATT&CK techniques related to privilege escalation and credential access through browser-based attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates how plugin architecture can introduce unexpected security weaknesses when not properly integrated with the browser's core security model. Organizations and users should immediately upgrade to Firefox 3.6.2 or later versions to mitigate this risk, as the patch addresses the underlying flaw in the window.location protection mechanism. Additionally, security teams should monitor plugin usage patterns and consider implementing additional security measures such as content security policies and regular security audits to prevent similar issues from arising in other components of their web infrastructure. The incident underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser versions and the critical need for comprehensive security testing of plugin architectures to prevent such fundamental breaches of web security principles.