CVE-2012-4192 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox 16.0, Thunderbird 16.0, and SeaMonkey 2.13 allow remote attackers to bypass the Same Origin Policy and read the properties of a Location object via a crafted web site, a related issue to CVE-2012-4193.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-4192 represents a critical security flaw in Mozilla Firefox version 16.0, Thunderbird 16.0, and SeaMonkey 2.13 that compromises the fundamental Same Origin Policy protection mechanism. This weakness allows remote attackers to perform cross-origin information leakage by manipulating the Location object properties through maliciously crafted websites. The vulnerability specifically targets the browser's security model that prevents scripts from accessing properties of objects from different origins, creating a pathway for unauthorized data extraction.
The technical implementation of this flaw involves exploiting how the browser handles Location object access across different security boundaries. When a malicious website attempts to access certain properties of a Location object that should be restricted due to cross-origin policies, the vulnerability allows bypassing these restrictions. This occurs because the browser fails to properly validate the origin context when accessing specific Location object properties, enabling attackers to gather sensitive information about the target page's location. The issue is categorized under CWE-284, which addresses improper access control mechanisms, and demonstrates how insufficient validation of object access can lead to security policy circumvention.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables attackers to gather metadata about target pages including URLs, protocols, and potentially sensitive routing information. This information can be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks including session hijacking, cross-site request forgery exploitation, or targeted phishing campaigns. The vulnerability affects not only web browsers but also email clients like Thunderbird that utilize the same underlying browser engine, amplifying the potential attack surface. Attackers can craft websites that silently extract location information from embedded frames or iframes, making this particularly dangerous in targeted attacks.
Security professionals should implement multiple layers of defense against this vulnerability, starting with immediate patching of affected software versions to address the root cause. Organizations should also deploy web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious Location object access patterns, while implementing strict content security policies to limit cross-origin resource access. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect unusual patterns of location object property access that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which involves the use of scripting languages to execute malicious code, and T1566, which covers social engineering tactics that could leverage this vulnerability for information gathering purposes. Regular security assessments should verify that browser security policies are properly enforced and that no unauthorized access to location properties occurs in web applications.