CVE-2013-1698 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The getUserMedia permission implementation in Mozilla Firefox before 22.0 references the URL of a top-level document instead of the URL of a specific page, which makes it easier for remote attackers to trick users into permitting camera or microphone access via a crafted web site that uses IFRAME elements.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2013-1698 represents a critical flaw in Mozilla Firefox's implementation of the getUserMedia API permission system. This issue affects versions prior to Firefox 22.0 and stems from a fundamental misunderstanding of how permission contexts should be handled when dealing with nested browsing contexts. The core problem lies in the permission implementation's failure to properly isolate permissions based on the specific page URL rather than the top-level document URL. This design flaw creates a significant security gap that directly impacts user privacy and consent mechanisms.
The technical nature of this vulnerability can be classified under CWE-693, which deals with Protection Mechanism Failure, specifically in the context of permission management and access control. The flaw manifests when a malicious website constructs a crafted page using IFRAME elements to exploit the permission system's weakness. When a user navigates to a malicious site, the attacker can leverage the improper URL reference to make the browser grant camera or microphone access based on the top-level document context rather than the actual page where the permission request originates. This creates a scenario where users unknowingly grant permissions to malicious actors through carefully constructed cross-site scripting attacks.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability enables sophisticated social engineering attacks that can bypass user consent mechanisms entirely. Attackers can create deceptive web pages where legitimate-looking content appears in the main frame while malicious IFRAMEs handle the permission requests. The impact extends beyond simple privacy violations to potential identity theft, surveillance, and data exfiltration scenarios. Users who trust the top-level domain may unknowingly grant access to their camera and microphone when interacting with seemingly benign websites. This vulnerability directly violates the principle of least privilege and user consent in web browser security models, as demonstrated by ATT&CK technique T1566 which covers social engineering attacks leveraging browser permissions.
The mitigation strategy for this vulnerability required a complete overhaul of Firefox's permission handling system to ensure that each specific page context maintains its own independent permission state. Mozilla addressed this issue by implementing proper URL context isolation in the getUserMedia permission system, ensuring that permissions are granted based on the actual page URL rather than the top-level document. This fix aligns with industry best practices for secure permission management and demonstrates the importance of context-aware security controls in web browsers. Organizations should ensure all Firefox installations are updated to version 22.0 or later to prevent exploitation of this vulnerability. The resolution also emphasizes the need for continuous security auditing of browser permission systems and the importance of proper sandboxing and context isolation mechanisms to prevent similar issues from arising in other browser implementations.