CVE-2012-1926 in Web Browser
Summary
by MITRE
Opera before 11.62 allows remote attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy via the (1) history.pushState and (2) history.replaceState functions in conjunction with cross-domain frames, leading to unintended read access to history.state information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1926 represents a significant security flaw in Opera web browser versions prior to 11.62 that undermines the fundamental Same Origin Policy mechanism. This policy serves as a cornerstone of web security by preventing scripts from one origin from accessing resources or data from another origin, thereby protecting user privacy and application integrity. The flaw specifically exploits the interaction between history.pushState and history.replaceState JavaScript functions when combined with cross-domain frame manipulation, creating an avenue for unauthorized data access.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from how Opera handled the history.state object within the context of cross-domain frame interactions. When a web page loaded in one domain attempts to manipulate browser history using pushState or replaceState functions, the browser should maintain strict isolation between different origins. However, Opera's implementation failed to properly enforce these boundaries, allowing malicious actors to craft cross-domain frames that could access the history.state information from other origins. This occurs because the browser's security model does not adequately separate the state information associated with different browsing contexts, creating a pathway for information leakage.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple data exposure, as it enables sophisticated attacks that could compromise user privacy and potentially lead to more severe security consequences. Attackers could leverage this flaw to discover information about a user's browsing history, potentially including visited URLs, session data, and other sensitive information that might reveal personal habits or confidential activities. The vulnerability particularly affects scenarios where users navigate between different domains, as the history.state object can contain data that reveals patterns of navigation or access to protected resources. This type of information disclosure can be particularly damaging when combined with other reconnaissance techniques or social engineering attacks.
This vulnerability maps directly to CWE-200, which addresses "Information Exposure," and aligns with several ATT&CK techniques including T1566 for credential access and T1071 for application layer protocol usage. The flaw demonstrates how browser security mechanisms can be bypassed through careful manipulation of JavaScript APIs, highlighting the complexity of modern web security implementations. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Opera 11.62 or later versions, implementing Content Security Policy headers, and monitoring for suspicious cross-domain frame usage patterns. Additionally, developers should avoid relying on history.state for sensitive data storage and implement proper origin validation mechanisms in their applications to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in other browsers or future versions.