CVE-2019-11698 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2019-11698, a security flaw in Thunderbird, Firefox, and Firefox ESR versions allowing theft of user browser history. Find mitigation steps and prevention measures here.
A vulnerability in Thunderbird, Firefox, and Firefox ESR versions prior to specified versions allows attackers to steal user browser history through a crafted hyperlink.
Understanding CVE-2019-11698
This CVE involves a security flaw that enables the theft of user browser history data through a specific drag-and-drop action within the affected Mozilla products.
What is CVE-2019-11698?
The vulnerability in Thunderbird, Firefox, and Firefox ESR versions prior to certain releases permits malicious actors to extract a user's browser history by manipulating hyperlinks.
The Impact of CVE-2019-11698
Exploiting this vulnerability can lead to the unauthorized retrieval and transmission of a user's browser history to a malicious site, compromising user privacy and potentially exposing sensitive information.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-11698
This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability, including affected systems, versions, and the exploitation mechanism.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw allows attackers to execute a query of a user's browser history by dragging and dropping a specially crafted hyperlink to the bookmark bar or sidebar, then moving the resulting bookmark into the web content area.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Thunderbird versions prior to 60.7
- Firefox versions prior to 67
- Firefox ESR versions prior to 60.7
Exploitation Mechanism
By manipulating the drag-and-drop feature with a malicious hyperlink, threat actors can extract and transmit a user's browser history data to a designated content page.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2019-11698 involves immediate actions and long-term security practices.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Thunderbird, Firefox, and Firefox ESR to versions 60.7, 67, and 60.7 respectively.
- Avoid dragging and dropping untrusted hyperlinks within the browser.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
- Educate users on safe browsing practices to prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
Ensure timely installation of security patches and updates provided by Mozilla to address CVE-2019-11698.