CVE-2013-1696 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox before 22.0 does not properly enforce the X-Frame-Options protection mechanism, which allows remote attackers to conduct clickjacking attacks via a crafted web site that uses the HTTP server push feature with multipart responses.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1696 represents a critical flaw in Mozilla Firefox's implementation of the X-Frame-Options security header mechanism. This weakness specifically affects Firefox versions prior to 22.0 and stems from the browser's inadequate handling of the X-Frame-Options protection when combined with HTTP server push functionality. The X-Frame-Options header is a crucial security feature designed to prevent clickjacking attacks by controlling whether a web page can be displayed within a frame or iframe element, thereby protecting users from malicious redirection attempts that could trick them into interacting with unintended content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a sophisticated attack vector involving HTTP server push with multipart responses. When Firefox processes multipart responses in conjunction with HTTP server push, it fails to properly validate the X-Frame-Options directives that should prevent the embedding of content in frames. This flaw creates a bypass mechanism that allows attackers to craft malicious websites capable of circumventing the intended protection. The vulnerability specifically targets the browser's security model by exploiting the interaction between two distinct HTTP features that should normally work in concert to provide comprehensive clickjacking protection.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and directly affects user security across multiple attack scenarios. Attackers can leverage this weakness to execute successful clickjacking attacks where users are tricked into performing unintended actions on legitimate websites while believing they are interacting with a different interface. The implications extend beyond simple phishing attempts to encompass more sophisticated social engineering campaigns that can compromise user accounts, facilitate unauthorized transactions, or enable data exfiltration. The vulnerability effectively undermines the browser's ability to enforce frame protection, creating persistent security risks for all users of affected Firefox versions.
This vulnerability maps to CWE-1021, which specifically addresses "Improper Restriction of Rendered UI Layers or Frames," and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, "Exploitation for Client Execution." The flaw demonstrates how HTTP protocol features can be misused to bypass security controls when multiple security mechanisms interact in unexpected ways. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability represents a failure in the browser's security architecture to properly handle complex HTTP interactions, highlighting the importance of comprehensive testing for security controls that operate in combination rather than in isolation.
The recommended mitigations for this vulnerability include immediate upgrade to Firefox version 22.0 or later, where the implementation properly enforces X-Frame-Options protection even when HTTP server push is involved. Organizations should also implement additional defensive measures such as content security policy headers that provide additional layers of protection beyond X-Frame-Options. Network administrators should monitor for suspicious HTTP server push implementations that might be exploited in conjunction with this vulnerability, while security teams should conduct thorough testing of their web applications to ensure proper X-Frame-Options implementation across all HTTP response types. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the complexity involved in implementing robust security controls and the necessity of continuous security assessment and monitoring.