Incompatibility Between Firefox and Internet Explorer Causes Security Hole

HellasVagabond · Jul 12, 2007

If both IE and Firefox version 2.0, or later are loaded on a persons computer a zero day security hole may occur.

The trouble begins when visiting a site with malicious content while using IE. The site then registers a "firefoxurl://" URI (uniform resource identifier) handler, that gives access to that site and allows it to interact with IE.

The Security researcher named Thor Larholm who discovered the Security Hole and Symantec put much of the blame on IE, while Secunia's chief technology researcher named Thomas Kristensen, blamed FireFox for this Security Issue.

Source : Zdnet

View at TechPowerUp Main Site

cmberry20 · Jul 12, 2007

"If both IE and Firefox version 2.0, or later are loaded on a persons computer a zero day security hole may occur."

That quote in it self will apply to 99% of PC users as IE comes fully installed on all XP & Vista machines.
So just installing Mozilla will causes this scenario to happen.

GJSNeptune · Jul 12, 2007

cmberry20 said:
So just installing Mozilla will causes this scenario to happen.

Not quite. You have to be using IE, and "Mozilla" is just a company.

Firefox is the vehicle, but it's relaly IE's fault.

"Firefox is the current attack vector, but Internet Explorer is to blame for not escaping...characters when passing on the input to the command line," said Larholm

Darknova · Jul 12, 2007

HAHAH, they BOTH are too blame. IE for having the security flaw...and Firefox for...oh yeah, having the security flaw.

GJSNeptune · Jul 12, 2007

Firefox's only involvement is being installed.

Darknova · Jul 12, 2007

GJSNeptune said:
Firefox's only involvement is being installed.

If it wasn't installed there wouldn't be a problem....hence it has a security flaw. Maybe not some gaping hole like IE has, but still a flaw none the less.

Telexen · Jul 12, 2007

Darknova said:
If it wasn't installed there wouldn't be a problem....hence it has a security flaw. Maybe not some gaping hole like IE has, but still a flaw none the less.

But if it's installed on Linux, where IE doesn't belong - then it has no problem

GJSNeptune · Jul 12, 2007

Darknova said:
If it wasn't installed there wouldn't be a problem....hence it has a security flaw. Maybe not some gaping hole like IE has, but still a flaw none the less.

It's a flaw because it takes advantage of IE when Firefox is installed. It has nothing to do with Firefox. It's entirely IE's shortcomings that makes this a risk.

The trouble begins when browsing a malicious site while using IE and it registers a "firefoxurl://" URI (uniform resource identifier) handler, which allows the browser to interact with specific resources on the Web. As a result, users may find their systems remotely compromised.

I'll quote this yet again:

"Firefox is the current attack vector, but Internet Explorer is to blame for not escaping ... characters when passing on the input to the command line," said Larholm.

Darknova · Jul 12, 2007

"It's a little bit of both," said Oliver Friedrichs, director of Symantec's Security Response Center. "You have two very complex applications that are not playing well together and leading to a security issue. The components themselves are secure as stand-alone products but not together."

It is not entirely IE's fault. I understand exactly how the risk came about, I understand how it is attacked, and I understand the under lying fault is with IE. However without FF there is no problem, as FF, in a sense, opening up the hole.

I still agree entirely that it is mostly IEs fault, but FF is not entirely blameless.

Dippyskoodlez · Jul 12, 2007

Darknova said:
It is not entirely IE's fault. I understand exactly how the risk came about, I understand how it is attacked, and I understand the under lying fault is with IE. However without FF there is no problem, as FF, in a sense, opening up the hole.

I still agree entirely that it is mostly IEs fault, but FF is not entirely blameless.

But... Can this be used if something other than firefox were to use the same method?

Its ie.. :laugh:

Benpi · Jul 12, 2007

If you're an anti-MS club member (or own a mac), then this is 100% IE's fault. If you're in the MS fanclub, it's FireFox's fault. If you really don't give a shart, it's both of their fault.

GJSNeptune · Jul 12, 2007

There is skewed logic working here. The flaw exploits a hole in IE, but it only works if Firefox is installed. Firefox has nothing to do with IE not escaping characters. If a patch comes out, it'd be for IE, not Firefox.

Dippyskoodlez · Jul 12, 2007

GJSNeptune said:
There is skewed logic working here. The flaw exploits a hole in IE, but it only works if Firefox is installed. Firefox has nothing to do with IE not escaping characters. If a patch comes out, it'd be for IE, not Firefox.

Exactly.

If you wanna scrape it up to fanboi-ism, GTFO.

The fix will be for IE.

HellasVagabond · Jul 12, 2007

Calm down people....

GJSNeptune · Jul 12, 2007

Calm as can be. Don't know why the mods have been exaggerating intensity.

HellasVagabond · Jul 12, 2007

Anyways everybodys goal is for this to get fixed so no point arguing about IE and Firefox.
Both are Outstanding Browsers.

GJSNeptune · Jul 12, 2007

Quick fix. Don't use IE.

HellasVagabond · Jul 12, 2007

I like it far more than Firefox.....And im sure many people do also.....However lately MS is releasing updates once a month so no problems there

demonbrawn · Jul 12, 2007

I personally like Firefox because of all the little free add-ons. Anyway, I don't think it really matters which program caused the issue as long as it gets fixed.

GJSNeptune · Jul 12, 2007

It matters when one is being falsely accused and criticized.

HellasVagabond · Jul 12, 2007

It takes both program faulty codes to create this mess GJSNeptune...Its not just 1 of those 2 thats bad.

Ketxxx · Jul 12, 2007

Darknova said:
If it wasn't installed there wouldn't be a problem....hence it has a security flaw. Maybe not some gaping hole like IE has, but still a flaw none the less.

The only flaw that was made was the creation of Internet Explorer.

WarEagleAU · Jul 12, 2007

Firefox is the bomb. Safe and secure, but now it seems folks are targetting it. I guess they are tired of everyone ragging IE

Dippyskoodlez · Jul 12, 2007

HellasVagabond said:
It takes both program faulty codes to create this mess GJSNeptune...Its not just 1 of those 2 thats bad.

It sounds like IE is not handling certain text correctly... enabling something to take advantage of an internal link ability of firefox... with this, simply patching IE would....... solve the problem, would it not?

HellasVagabond · Jul 12, 2007

We will see...If MS is the only one to release a patch yes, but if Mozilla releases an update too then no

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Incompatibility Between Firefox and Internet Explorer Causes Security Hole

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