CVE-2010-2455 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Opera does not properly manage the address bar between the request to open a URL and the retrieval of the new document s content, which might allow remote attackers to conduct spoofing attacks via a crafted HTML document, a related issue to CVE-2010-1206.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2010-2455 represents a critical web browser security flaw in Opera versions prior to 10.60. This issue stems from improper handling of address bar management during the transition period between URL requests and document content retrieval. The flaw creates a temporal window where the browser's address bar may display incorrect information, enabling malicious actors to exploit this inconsistency for deceptive purposes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs within Opera's navigation and rendering pipeline where the browser fails to synchronize the address bar update with the actual content loading process. During the brief interval between initiating a URL request and completing the document retrieval, the address bar may retain the previous URL while the new content is being processed. This asynchronous behavior creates an opportunity for attackers to craft HTML documents that manipulate the browser's visual representation, potentially displaying misleading URLs while executing malicious code from a different domain.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple visual deception to encompass serious security implications within the context of web browser security. Attackers can leverage this flaw to create convincing phishing attacks by displaying legitimate-looking URLs while actually loading content from malicious domains. The vulnerability specifically relates to CVE-2010-1206, indicating a pattern of address bar manipulation issues that affect user trust in browser security indicators. This type of spoofing attack directly violates the principle of least privilege and user trust in browser security mechanisms, as users may be deceived into believing they are visiting legitimate websites while actually interacting with malicious content.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses information exposure, and represents a form of user interface deception that undermines security boundaries. The attack vector involves crafting HTML documents that exploit the timing gap between navigation initiation and content display, potentially allowing for credential theft, malware delivery, or other malicious activities. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper state management in browser implementations and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of user interface components.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Opera versions to 10.60 or later, which includes proper synchronization between URL requests and address bar updates. System administrators should implement browser security policies that enforce automatic updates and monitor for outdated browser installations. Additionally, user education regarding the importance of verifying URLs and being cautious of unexpected navigation behavior can provide defense in depth. The fix typically involves implementing proper event handling and ensuring that address bar updates occur only after successful content retrieval, preventing the temporal window that enables the spoofing attack. This vulnerability underscores the critical nature of maintaining proper browser security boundaries and the necessity of thorough testing for race conditions in web browser implementations.