Mozilla status elements can be disabled via JavaScript

Overview

Mozilla allows websites to disable various browser status elements. This allows websites to create spoofed dialogs using XUL.

Description

Certain Mozilla web browser status elements, such as the address bar, status bar, and navigation controls, can be disabled remotely by web sites using JavaScript. Consequently, attackers can design malicious web sites that disable these native elements and, using XUL, recreate pages that look like native Mozilla dialogs and windows. (XUL is Mozilla’s XML-based user interface. It allows for the development of cross-platform applications.)

---

Impact

An attacker could convince a user that they were viewing a native Mozilla dialog, when in fact they are visiting a page created by the attacker. The attacker could use additional social engineering techniques to trick the victim into disclosing sensitive information such as credit card numbers, account numbers, and passwords. The attacker could also spoof pop-up windows that do not display the address bar.

---

Solution

---

Disable the ability to hide status items

By performing the following steps, it is possible to prevent JavaScript from disabling status elements. This will make XUL-created pages appear distinct from native Mozilla dialogs.

1. Enter “about:config” in Mozilla’s address bar. This will display Mozilla’s configuration values.
2. Set the following values to **true**:

dom.disable_window_open_feature.titlebar dom.disable_window_open_feature.close dom.disable_window_open_feature.toolbar dom.disable_window_open_feature.location dom.disable_window_open_feature.directories dom.disable_window_open_feature.personalbar dom.disable_window_open_feature.menubar dom.disable_window_open_feature.scrollbars dom.disable_window_open_feature.resizable dom.disable_window_open_feature.minimizable dom.disable_window_open_feature.status
These preferences can also be set via the user.js file.

Vendor Information

262350

Filter by status: All Affected Not Affected Unknown

Filter by content: __ Additional information available

__ Sort by: Status Alphabetical

Expand all

Javascript is disabled. Click here to view vendors.

Mozilla __ Unknown

Notified: August 04, 2004 Updated: December 16, 2004

Status

Unknown

Vendor Statement

We have not received a statement from the vendor.

Vendor Information

The vendor has not provided us with any further information regarding this vulnerability.

Addendum

US-CERT has no additional comments at this time.

If you have feedback, comments, or additional information about this vulnerability, please send us [email](<mailto:[email protected]?Subject=VU%23262350 Feedback>).

CVSS Metrics

Group	Score	Vector
Base
Temporal
Environmental

References

• <http://secunia.com/advisories/12188/&gt;
• <http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/10832&gt;
• <http://xforce.iss.net/xforce/xfdb/16837&gt;
• <https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=176304&gt;
• <http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=244965&gt;
• <http://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=22183&gt;

Acknowledgements

This vulnerability was reported by David Ahmad. The workaround was provided by Asa Dotzler.

This document was written by Will Dormann.

Other Information

CVE IDs:	CVE-2004-0764
Severity Metric:	1.04 Date Public: