CVE-2011-1168 in KDE
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the KHTMLPart::htmlError function in khtml/khtml_part.cpp in Konqueror in KDE SC 4.4.0 through 4.6.1 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via the URI in a URL corresponding to an unavailable web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/28/2024
The CVE-2011-1168 vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the Konqueror web browser component of the KDE Software Compilation. This vulnerability specifically affects the KHTMLPart::htmlError function located in khtml/khtml_part.cpp, which handles error display when web resources are unavailable. The flaw manifests when Konqueror processes URIs corresponding to non-existent websites, creating an opportunity for remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the browser context of unsuspecting users. The vulnerability exists in KDE SC versions 4.4.0 through 4.6.1, indicating a relatively broad affected range that spans multiple stable releases of the KDE desktop environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within the HTML error handling mechanism. When Konqueror encounters a URI that cannot be resolved, the KHTMLPart::htmlError function processes the malformed URL without proper sanitization of the URI components. This creates an XSS vector where attacker-controlled input can be directly embedded into the HTML error page without appropriate escaping or encoding. The vulnerability specifically leverages the URI parameter processing to inject malicious JavaScript code or HTML content that executes within the browser context of the victim. This flaw aligns with CWE-79, which categorizes cross-site scripting vulnerabilities as weaknesses in web applications that allow attackers to inject client-side scripts into web pages viewed by other users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple script execution to potentially enable sophisticated attacks against users of the Konqueror browser. Attackers can craft malicious URLs that, when accessed, will display error pages containing embedded malicious code that can steal session cookies, redirect users to phishing sites, or perform other malicious actions. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction, typically just visiting a maliciously crafted URL, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or social engineering attacks. Given Konqueror's integration with the KDE desktop environment, this vulnerability could potentially affect users in corporate environments where KDE is the standard browser, creating widespread exposure across organizations. The attack surface is further expanded through the potential for this vulnerability to be chained with other exploits or used as a delivery mechanism for more sophisticated attacks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-1168 should prioritize immediate remediation through system updates, as the vulnerability exists in multiple stable releases of KDE SC. Users should upgrade to KDE SC 4.6.2 or later versions where the vulnerability has been patched through proper input validation and output encoding of URI components within the htmlError function. System administrators should implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block malicious URI patterns, particularly those containing script tags or suspicious encoding sequences. Additionally, security awareness training should emphasize the dangers of visiting untrusted URLs, and browser security settings should be configured to limit script execution where possible. Organizations should also consider implementing content security policies that prevent execution of inline scripts and restrict loading of external resources to reduce the impact of successful XSS exploitation attempts. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices in browser components and highlights the need for comprehensive input validation even in error handling routines, as specified in the ATT&CK framework's mitigation strategies for web application vulnerabilities.