Spoofing bug hits Firefox

**Glaswegian** · 01-04-2008, 04:17 AM

A flaw in Firefox could dupe users into disclosing passwords, according to a leading security researcher.

Aviv Raff, an Israeli researcher best known for ferreting out browser flaws, revealed the Firefox vulnerability on his own blog, and posted a demonstration video there. He did not go public with any proof-of-concept code or working exploit, however.

According to Raff, Firefox 2.0.0.11 - Mozilla's most current version - fails to sanitise single quotation marks and spaces in what's called the "Realm" value of an authentication header. "This makes it possible for an attacker to create a specially crafted Realm value which will look as if the authentication dialog came from a trusted site," said Raff.

Raff outlined a pair of possible attack vectors. One would rely on a malicious site that included a link to a trusted site - a well-known bank, say, or a web mail service - that when clicked would display its usual log-on dialog. In the background, however, the attacker would have crafted a script that exploited the Firefox vulnerability to redirect the username and password entered by the user to the hacker's server instead of the real deal.

Alternately, a rigged image could be delivered via email or embedded in a blog or MySpace page that when clicked generated a legitimate-looking log-on dialog. Raff's video shows a spoof of Google's Checkout payment system.

"Until Mozilla fixes this vulnerability, I recommend not to provide username and password to websites which show this dialog," said Raff in his blog.

The company last patched Firefox in late November when it updated the browser to 2.0.0.11. Late this week, Mozilla's chief of security, Window Snyder, would only say that her team is investigating Raff's claims.

01-04-2008, 04:17 AM	#1 (permalink)
Glaswegian Moderator/ Rangemaster TSF Academy; Analyst, Security Team; Oor Wullie; TSF Surgeon and Resident Comic Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Glasgow Posts: 21,016 OS: Win XP Pro SP3 My System Blog Entries: 9	Spoofing bug hits Firefox A flaw in Firefox could dupe users into disclosing passwords, according to a leading security researcher. Aviv Raff, an Israeli researcher best known for ferreting out browser flaws, revealed the Firefox vulnerability on his own blog, and posted a demonstration video there. He did not go public with any proof-of-concept code or working exploit, however. According to Raff, Firefox 2.0.0.11 - Mozilla's most current version - fails to sanitise single quotation marks and spaces in what's called the "Realm" value of an authentication header. "This makes it possible for an attacker to create a specially crafted Realm value which will look as if the authentication dialog came from a trusted site," said Raff. Raff outlined a pair of possible attack vectors. One would rely on a malicious site that included a link to a trusted site - a well-known bank, say, or a web mail service - that when clicked would display its usual log-on dialog. In the background, however, the attacker would have crafted a script that exploited the Firefox vulnerability to redirect the username and password entered by the user to the hacker's server instead of the real deal. Alternately, a rigged image could be delivered via email or embedded in a blog or MySpace page that when clicked generated a legitimate-looking log-on dialog. Raff's video shows a spoof of Google's Checkout payment system. "Until Mozilla fixes this vulnerability, I recommend not to provide username and password to websites which show this dialog," said Raff in his blog. The company last patched Firefox in late November when it updated the browser to 2.0.0.11. Late this week, Mozilla's chief of security, Window Snyder, would only say that her team is investigating Raff's claims. __________________ Iain - Defender of the Haggis and all things Scottish. I don't help by PM - post in the Forums. Ad-Aware::SpywareBlaster::SpyBot::SpywareGuard::SnoopFree::AVG Free::HOSTS File::HijackThis::Donate::5 Steps For Infected PCs