CVE-2012-1950 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The drag-and-drop implementation in Mozilla Firefox 4.x through 13.0 and Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.6 allows remote attackers to spoof the address bar by canceling a page load.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-1950 represents a significant security flaw in Mozilla Firefox's user interface implementation that specifically affects versions 4.x through 13.0 and Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.6. This issue resides within the browser's drag-and-drop functionality and demonstrates how seemingly innocuous user interface elements can be exploited to create dangerous security conditions. The vulnerability operates by leveraging the interaction between the browser's address bar display mechanism and the drag-and-drop operations that users perform within the browser environment.
The technical flaw manifests when a user performs drag-and-drop operations that involve page loading and cancellation events. During these operations, Firefox's implementation fails to properly validate or sanitize the address bar display information, allowing malicious web content to manipulate the visual representation of the current page URL. This occurs because the browser's drag-and-drop system does not adequately separate the visual address bar display from the actual page load context, creating a window where spoofing attacks can succeed. The vulnerability specifically exploits the timing and state management of page load operations when users cancel or interrupt the loading process, which can result in the address bar showing misleading information while the actual page content remains unchanged.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple phishing attacks, as it directly undermines user trust in the browser's security indicators. Attackers can exploit this flaw to make users believe they are visiting legitimate websites when they are actually interacting with malicious content, effectively bypassing critical security warnings and user expectations about address bar integrity. This type of deception can lead to credential theft, data exfiltration, and other malicious activities that rely on user confidence in the displayed URL. The vulnerability particularly affects users who frequently interact with web content that requires drag-and-drop functionality, making it a significant concern for web application security and user experience integrity.
The flaw aligns with CWE-601 and CWE-200 in the Common Weakness Enumeration, specifically addressing URL redirection and information exposure vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability corresponds to techniques involving social engineering and credential access through user interface manipulation. The attack vector requires remote code execution capabilities in the context of web browsing, making it a prime example of how browser-based attacks can leverage UI design flaws. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Firefox, implementing user education about address bar verification, and monitoring for suspicious drag-and-drop behavior in web applications. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining strict separation between user interface state management and core security functions, demonstrating that even indirect attack paths through seemingly benign features can create serious security implications.