CVE-2019-17002 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

This CVE-2019-17002 article provides insights into a vulnerability affecting Firefox versions below 70 when the Content Security Policy includes the specification of upgrade-insecure-requests.

Understanding CVE-2019-17002

This CVE involves a security flaw in Firefox versions prior to 70 that prevents links from being upgraded to HTTPS when dragged and dropped from a page with the upgrade-insecure-requests specification in the Content Security Policy.

What is CVE-2019-17002?

The vulnerability impacts Firefox versions below 70 when the Content Security Policy includes the specification of upgrade-insecure-requests. In this case, if a link is dragged and dropped from the affected page, it will not be upgraded to use the secure HTTPS protocol.

The Impact of CVE-2019-17002

The vulnerability allows for potential security risks as links dragged and dropped from affected pages may not be automatically upgraded to HTTPS, exposing users to potential man-in-the-middle attacks and data interception.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-17002

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises when the upgrade-insecure-requests directive in the Content Security Policy is not honored for links dragged and dropped, leading to a lack of automatic HTTPS protocol upgrade for these links in Firefox versions below 70.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Firefox
Vendor: Mozilla
Vulnerable Versions: Before version 70

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by malicious actors to intercept unsecured links dragged and dropped from affected pages, potentially compromising user data and privacy.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the CVE-2019-17002 vulnerability, the following steps are recommended:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Firefox to version 70 or above to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid dragging and dropping links from untrusted or potentially compromised websites.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update browsers and software to the latest versions to ensure security patches are applied.
Educate users on safe browsing practices and the risks associated with insecure connections.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Mozilla and promptly apply recommended patches and updates to secure systems against known vulnerabilities.