CVE-2019-11701 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2019-11701 affecting Firefox versions prior to 67. Understand the XSS vulnerability through the webcal: protocol handler and how to mitigate the risk.
Firefox prior to version 67 is vulnerable to a cross-site scripting (XSS) attack through the webcal: protocol handler. This issue affects users with accounts on the vulnerable service.
Understanding CVE-2019-11701
The webcal: protocol handler in Firefox exposes users to XSS attacks due to loading a vulnerable website by default. Only users with accounts on the affected service are at risk.
What is CVE-2019-11701?
The vulnerability in Firefox versions before 67 allows malicious actors to execute XSS attacks through the webcal: protocol handler, impacting users with accounts on the vulnerable service.
The Impact of CVE-2019-11701
- Users with accounts on the vulnerable service are susceptible to XSS attacks
- Others not registered on the service are not affected
Technical Details of CVE-2019-11701
Firefox's vulnerability to XSS attacks through the webcal: protocol handler.
Vulnerability Description
- Default webcal: protocol handler loads a website vulnerable to XSS attacks
- Legacy feature removed in versions after 67
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Firefox
- Vendor: Mozilla
- Versions Affected: < 67
Exploitation Mechanism
- Malicious actors exploit the webcal: protocol handler to execute XSS attacks
Mitigation and Prevention
Steps to address and prevent the CVE-2019-11701 vulnerability.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Firefox to version 67 or above
- Avoid accessing webcal: protocol links from untrusted sources
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update browsers and security software
- Educate users on safe browsing practices
Patching and Updates
- Mozilla has addressed this issue in Firefox version 67 and later