CVE-2025-47241 in Browser Use
Summary
by MITRE • 05/04/2025
In browser-use (aka Browser Use) before 0.1.45, URL parsing of allowed_domains is mishandled because userinfo can be placed in the authority component.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-47241 affects the browser-use library version prior to 0.1.45 and represents a critical flaw in URL parsing mechanisms that directly impacts domain validation security. This issue stems from improper handling of userinfo components within URL authority sections, creating potential security bypass opportunities that could allow malicious actors to circumvent intended access controls. The vulnerability specifically targets the allowed_domains functionality which is designed to restrict browser operations to specific domains while maintaining security boundaries. When userinfo data is present in the authority component of URLs, the parsing logic fails to properly validate or sanitize this information, potentially allowing unauthorized domain access through crafted malicious URLs.
The technical implementation flaw resides in how the library processes URL structures that contain userinfo portions within the authority component. According to CWE-20, this represents a classic input validation vulnerability where user-provided data is not properly sanitized before being processed. The userinfo component in URLs typically follows the format user:[email protected] and when improperly handled, can be exploited to manipulate domain validation checks. This parsing error creates a path traversal-like condition where the userinfo portion may be incorrectly interpreted or ignored during domain validation, effectively allowing access to domains that should be restricted. The vulnerability operates at the URL parsing layer, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious web requests, crafted URLs in configuration files, or through manipulation of user input that gets processed by the library.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple access control bypasses and can lead to serious security implications including potential data leakage, unauthorized access to sensitive resources, and escalation of privileges within applications that rely on domain-based security controls. Attackers could craft URLs with userinfo components that appear to target allowed domains while actually bypassing security restrictions, potentially enabling them to access restricted resources or perform unauthorized operations. The vulnerability affects any application using browser-use library versions before 0.1.45 that implements domain validation checks, making it particularly concerning for web applications, browser extensions, and any system that relies on URL-based access controls. This flaw could be exploited in conjunction with other vulnerabilities to create more complex attack scenarios, particularly in environments where multiple security controls are layered.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-47241 primarily focus on upgrading to browser-use version 0.1.45 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for proper URL parsing and userinfo handling. Organizations should also implement additional security measures including thorough input validation, URL sanitization, and regular security auditing of all components that process user-provided URLs. The fix typically involves implementing proper URL parsing that correctly handles userinfo components according to RFC 3986 standards, ensuring that userinfo data is either properly validated or stripped from the authority component before domain validation occurs. Security teams should also consider implementing network-based monitoring to detect unusual URL patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, as well as reviewing existing access control policies to ensure they remain effective against potential bypass techniques. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1071.004 for application layer protocol manipulation and could be categorized under T1566 for credential access through malicious web content, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the security risk.