CVE-2005-2260
Description
The browser user interface in Firefox before 1.0.5, Mozilla before 1.7.9, and Netscape 8.0.2 and 7.2 does not properly distinguish between user-generated events and untrusted synthetic events, which makes it easier for remote attackers to perform dangerous actions that normally could only be performed manually by the user.
AI Insight
LLM-synthesized narrative grounded in this CVE's description and references.
Firefox, Mozilla, and Netscape browsers fail to distinguish user-generated from synthetic events, allowing attackers to simulate user actions.
Vulnerability
In Firefox before 1.0.5, Mozilla before 1.7.9, and Netscape 8.0.2 and 7.2, the browser user interface does not properly distinguish between genuine user-generated events and untrusted synthetic events created by scripts. This flaw affects the event handling code in the browser, allowing a remote attacker to inject synthetic events that appear to come from the user. The underlying issue is documented in Mozilla bug 289940 [4].
Exploitation
An attacker can exploit this by hosting a malicious web page that uses JavaScript to generate synthetic events (such as click events) and dispatch them to privileged UI elements (chrome). Since the browser does not enforce a trust distinction, these events are processed as if the user initiated them. The attacker does not require any special network position beyond serving the page, and no user interaction beyond viewing the page is needed.
Impact
Successful exploitation enables the attacker to perform dangerous actions that normally require user interaction, such as installing software, changing browser settings, or accessing sensitive data. This can lead to arbitrary code execution or privilege escalation within the browser's security context. The impact varies by browser, but generally allows an attacker to compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the browser.
Mitigation
Users should upgrade to Firefox 1.0.5, Mozilla 1.7.9, or later versions. For Netscape, updates were provided in subsequent releases. Red Hat released updated packages for Mozilla (RHSA-2005:586 [2] and RHSA-2005:587 [3]) to address this issue. No workaround besides upgrading is available.
AI Insight generated on May 24, 2026. Synthesized from this CVE's description and the cited reference URLs; citations are validated against the source bundle.
Affected products
41cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:0.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*+ 13 more
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:0.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:0.10.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:0.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:0.9:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:0.9.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:0.9.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:0.9.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:0.9:rc:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:1.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:1.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:1.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:1.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- (no CPE)range: <1.0.5
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*+ 25 more
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.4:alpha:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.5.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.5:alpha:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.5:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.5:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.6:alpha:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.6:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.7.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.7.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.7.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.7.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.7.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.7.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.7.8:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.7:alpha:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.7:beta:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.7:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.7:rc2:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:mozilla:1.7:rc3:*:*:*:*:*:*
- (no CPE)range: <1.7.9
Patches
0No patches discovered yet.
Vulnerability mechanics
AI mechanics synthesis has not run for this CVE yet.
References
19- www.mozilla.org/security/announce/mfsa2005-45.htmlnvdPatchVendor Advisory
- bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cginvd
- secunia.com/advisories/16043nvd
- secunia.com/advisories/16044nvd
- secunia.com/advisories/16059nvd
- www.ciac.org/ciac/bulletins/p-252.shtmlnvd
- www.debian.org/security/2005/dsa-810nvd
- www.networksecurity.fi/advisories/netscape-multiple-issues.htmlnvd
- www.novell.com/linux/security/advisories/2005_18_sr.htmlnvd
- www.novell.com/linux/security/advisories/2005_45_mozilla.htmlnvd
- www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2005-586.htmlnvd
- www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2005-587.htmlnvd
- www.securityfocus.com/bid/14242nvd
- www.vupen.com/english/advisories/2005/1075nvd
- bugzilla.redhat.com/bugzilla/show_bug.cginvd
- oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A100013nvd
- oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A10132nvd
- oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A1226nvd
- oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A742nvd
News mentions
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