Sep 26, 2008

XSS in Google Docs

>>>> http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/496734
Google Docs (HTML code) Multiple Cross Site Scripting Vulnerabilities

I. Background:
Google Docs is an online application which makes possibile to "Create and share your work online". You can use it to
create Documents, Presentations, Spreadsheets and Forms.

II. Description:
Multiple cross site scripting vulnerabilities were identified in Google Docs. A remote attacker could write a malformed
document and invite, through Google Docs sharing option, other users to see it in order to obtain their cookies. It's also possible
to public this malformed document and send its link around the web.

III. Details:
Google Docs makes possible to create a new document. When a user creates a new document he has the possibility to
change its html code through the Edit Html option. An attacker can make a malformed document using
decimal HTML entities (without semicolons) and hexadecimal entities (with semicolons) to bypass antixss filters.

Example:
<IMG SRC="javascript
:alert('test');"> (decimal HTML entity)
<IMG SRC="javascript
:alert('test');"> (hexadecimal HTML entity)


Please note: IMG tag isn't the only affected, it's just an example.

The attacker then will save his job and can share this document with someone else or send the document link to the victim to obtain his cookie.

IV. Vendor Response:
Google has been informed and has deployed a fix for these vulnerabilities.

V. Disclosure timeline:
  • 23/08/08 - Vulnerabilities discovered
  • 25/08/08 - Google informed
  • 25/08/08 - Automatic reply from Google received
  • 24/09/08 - Ask Google for updates
  • 25/09/09 - Google fixed all vulnerabilities submitted

Regards
Alfredo Melloni