Automated static analysis, commonly referred to as Static Application Security Testing (SAST), can find some instances of this weakness by analyzing source code (or binary/compiled code) without having to execute it. Typically, this is done by building a model of data flow and control flow, then searching for potentially-vulnerable patterns that connect "sources" (origins of input) with "sinks" (destinations where the data interacts with external components, a lower layer such as the OS, etc.)
CWE-1022 Variante Incompleto
Use of Web Link to Untrusted Target with window.opener Access
This vulnerability occurs when a web application links to an external, untrusted site without protecting its own window from being manipulated by that site. Specifically, it fails to prevent the…
Definición
What is CWE-1022?
This vulnerability occurs when a web application links to an external, untrusted site without protecting its own window from being manipulated by that site. Specifically, it fails to prevent the external page from altering security-sensitive properties of the `window.opener` object, such as the page's location.
When a link with `target="_blank"` opens an external site in a new tab, the new page gains a reference back to the originating page via the `window.opener` object. If the external site is compromised or malicious, it can execute scripts that read or modify properties of the `window.opener` object. This cross-origin access allows an attacker to, for example, silently change the `location` property of your original page, redirecting it to a phishing site without the user's knowledge.
Since the user's focus is on the newly opened tab, the original tab performing the redirect may not be visible. This makes the attack particularly stealthy, as users are unlikely to notice their original page has been hijacked until they return to it, potentially after entering sensitive information on a spoofed site.
Impacto en el mundo real
Real-world CVEs caused by CWE-1022
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Library software does not use rel: "noopener noreferrer" setting, allowing tabnabbing attacks to redirect to a malicious page
Cómo lo explotan los atacantes
Ruta del atacante paso a paso
- 1
In this example, the application opens a link in a named window/tab without taking precautions to prevent the called page from tampering with the calling page's location in the browser.
- 2
There are two ways that this weakness is commonly seen. The first is when the application generates an tag is with target="_blank" to point to a target site:
- 3
If the attacker offers a useful page on this link (or compromises a trusted, popular site), then a user may click on this link. However, the attacker could use scripting code to modify the window.opener's location property to redirect the application to a malicious, attacker-controlled page - such as one that mimics the look and feel of the original application and convinces the user to re-enter authentication credentials, i.e. phishing:
- 4
To mitigate this type of weakness, some browsers support the "rel" attribute with a value of "noopener", which sets the window.opener object equal to null. Another option is to use the "rel" attribute with a value of "noreferrer", which in essence does the same thing.
- 5
A second way that this weakness is commonly seen is when opening a new site directly within JavaScript. In this case, a new site is opened using the window.open() function.
Ejemplo de código vulnerable
Vulnerable HTML
There are two ways that this weakness is commonly seen. The first is when the application generates an tag is with target="_blank" to point to a target site:
<a href="http://attacker-site.example.com/useful-page.html" target="_blank"> Payload del atacante
If the attacker offers a useful page on this link (or compromises a trusted, popular site), then a user may click on this link. However, the attacker could use scripting code to modify the window.opener's location property to redirect the application to a malicious, attacker-controlled page - such as one that mimics the look and feel of the original application and convinces the user to re-enter authentication credentials, i.e. phishing:
window.opener.location = 'http://phishing.example.org/popular-bank-page'; Ejemplo de código seguro
Secure HTML
To mitigate this type of weakness, some browsers support the "rel" attribute with a value of "noopener", which sets the window.opener object equal to null. Another option is to use the "rel" attribute with a value of "noreferrer", which in essence does the same thing.
<a href="http://attacker-site.example.com/useful-page.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer"> What changed: the unsafe sink is replaced (or the input is validated/escaped) so the same payload no longer triggers the weakness.
Lista de prevención
How to prevent CWE-1022
- Architecture and Design Specify in the design that any linked external document must not be granted access to the location object of the calling page.
- Implementation When creating a link to an external document using the tag with a defined target, for example "_blank" or a named frame, provide the rel attribute with a value "noopener noreferrer". If opening the external document in a new window via javascript, then reset the opener by setting it equal to null.
- Implementation Do not use "_blank" targets. However, this can affect the usability of the application.
Señales de detección
How to detect CWE-1022
Plexicus detecta automáticamente CWE-1022 y abre un PR de corrección en menos de 60 segundos.
Codex Remedium escanea cada commit, identifica esta debilidad concreta y entrega un pull request listo para revisión con el parche. Sin tickets. Sin traspasos.
Preguntas frecuentes ¿Qué es CWE-1022?
¿Qué gravedad tiene CWE-1022?
¿Qué lenguajes o plataformas se ven afectados por CWE-1022?
¿Cómo puedo prevenir CWE-1022?
¿Cómo detecta y corrige Plexicus CWE-1022?
¿Dónde puedo aprender más sobre CWE-1022?
Frequently asked questions
¿Qué es CWE-1022?
This vulnerability occurs when a web application links to an external, untrusted site without protecting its own window from being manipulated by that site. Specifically, it fails to prevent the external page from altering security-sensitive properties of the `window.opener` object, such as the page's location.
¿Qué gravedad tiene CWE-1022?
MITRE califica la probabilidad de explotación como Media — la explotación es realista pero suele requerir condiciones específicas.
¿Qué lenguajes o plataformas se ven afectados por CWE-1022?
MITRE lists the following affected platforms: JavaScript, Web Based.
¿Cómo puedo prevenir CWE-1022?
Specify in the design that any linked external document must not be granted access to the location object of the calling page. When creating a link to an external document using the tag with a defined target, for example "_blank" or a named frame, provide the rel attribute with a value "noopener noreferrer". If opening the external document in a new window via javascript, then reset the opener by setting it equal to null.
¿Cómo detecta y corrige Plexicus CWE-1022?
El motor SAST de Plexicus detecta la firma de flujo de datos para CWE-1022 en cada commit. Cuando hay coincidencia, nuestro agente Codex Remedium abre un PR de corrección con el código corregido, las pruebas y un resumen de una línea para el revisor.
¿Dónde puedo aprender más sobre CWE-1022?
MITRE publica la definición canónica en https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1022.html. También puedes consultar la documentación de OWASP y NIST para guías relacionadas.
Debilidades relacionadas
Weaknesses related to CWE-1022
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CWE-556 Hermano
ASP.NET Misconfiguration: Use of Identity Impersonation
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CWE-9 Hermano
J2EE Misconfiguration: Weak Access Permissions for EJB Methods
This vulnerability occurs when Enterprise JavaBean (EJB) methods are configured with overly permissive access rights, allowing attackers…
Recursos
Further reading
- MITRE — CWE-1022 oficial https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/1022.html
- Target="_blank" - the most underestimated vulnerability ever https://medium.com/@jitbit/target-blank-the-most-underestimated-vulnerability-ever-96e328301f4c
- The target="_blank" vulnerability by example https://dev.to/ben/the-targetblank-vulnerability-by-example
- About rel=noopener https://mathiasbynens.github.io/rel-noopener/
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