Secunia Research: Multiple Browsers Tabbed Browsing Vulnerabilities

From: Jakob Balle (jb_at_SECUNIA.COM)
Date: 10/20/04

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Date:         Wed, 20 Oct 2004 15:02:43 +0200
To: NTBUGTRAQ@LISTSERV.NTBUGTRAQ.COM

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Secunia Research 20/10/2004

- Multiple Browsers Tabbed Browsing Vulnerabilities -

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Table of Contents

Affected Software....................................................1
Severity.............................................................2
Description of Vulnerabilities.......................................3
Solution.............................................................4
Time Table...........................................................5
Credits..............................................................6
References...........................................................7
About Secunia........................................................8
Verification.........................................................9

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1) Affected Software

Mozilla 1.7.3
Mozilla Firefox 0.10.1
Camino 0.8
Opera 7.54
Konqueror 3.2.2-6
Netscape 7.2
Avant Browser 9.02 build 101
Avant Browser 10.0 build 029
Maxthon (MyIE2) 1.1.039

Prior versions of all above software may also be vulnerable.

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2) Severity

Rating: Less/Moderately critical
Impact: Spoofing
Where: From remote

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3) Description of Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability "A":
It is possible for a inactive tab to spawn dialog boxes e.g. the
JavaScript "Prompt" box or the "Download dialog" box, even if the user
is browsing/viewing a completely different web site in another tab.

The problem is that the browsers does not indicate, which tab launched
the dialog boxes, which therefore could lead the user into disclosing
information to a malicious web site or to download and run a program,
which the user thought came from another trusted web site e.g. their
bank.

Demonstration:
http://secunia.com/multiple_browsers_dialog_box_spoofing_test/

Vulnerability "A" Affects:
Mozilla 1.7.3
Mozilla Firefox 0.10.1
Camino 0.8
Opera 7.54
Konqueror 3.2.2-6
Netscape 7.2
Avant Browser 9.02 build 101
Avant Browser 10.0 build 029
Maxthon (MyIE2) 1.1.039

Vulnerability "B":
It is possible for a inactive tab to always gain focus on a form
field in the inactive tab, even if the user is browsing/viewing a
completely different web site in another tab.

This is escalated a bit by the fact that most people do not look at
the monitor while typing data into a form field, and therefore might
send data to the site in the inactive tab, instead of the
intended/viewed tab.

Demonstration:
http://secunia.com/multiple_browsers_form_field_focus_test/

Vulnerability "B" Affects:
Mozilla 1.7.3
Mozilla Firefox 0.10.1
Netscape 7.2
Avant Browser 9.02 build 101
Avant Browser 10.0 build 029
Maxthon (MyIE2) 1.1.039

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4) Solution

Mozilla:
  Vulnerability "A":
    Disable JavaScript or do not visit untrusted and trusted websites
    at the same time.

  Vulnerability "B":
    Disable JavaScript or do not visit untrusted and trusted websites
    at the same time.

Mozilla Firefox:
  Vulnerability "A":
    Disable JavaScript or do not visit untrusted and trusted websites
    at the same time.

  Vulnerability "B":
    Disable JavaScript or do not visit untrusted and trusted websites
    at the same time.

Camino:
  Vulnerability "A":
    Disable JavaScript or do not visit untrusted and trusted websites
    at the same time.

Vulnerability "B":
Not affected by this vulnerability.

Opera:
Vulnerability "A":
Will be fixed in Opera 7.60.

    Until Opera 7.60 becomes available, Opera Software will release an
    advisory on this issue, which will be available on the Opera
    website.

Vulnerability "B":
Not affected by this vulnerability.

Avant Browser:
Vulnerability "A":
Vulnerable. However, vendor never responded to inquiries.