CFA/Security-Notes

« Comparative Feature Analyses
« Security Research

Purpose

Examine a bunch of browsers, existing Firefox Add-ons, and web services to generate a report that describes:

• Which capabilities each has
• A summary of where each is different/unique
• Some conclusions about which aspects seem most innovative and interesting that we might want to consider for Firefox

Research

General capabilities

Malware Detection

• Cross-domain barriers - prevent script on webpages from interacting with content from the other domains or windows; protects against malware by helping prevent malicious websites from manipulating flaws in other websites (IE)
• Downloads - if a webpage uses script to try to pop up a download box and force you to deal with it, IE intercepts the script and displays a prompt in the Information Bar instead (IE screenshot)
• Protection from Spyware - notification whenever downloading or installing software (FF2)
• Download actions - ability to disable handling and downloading of certain file types (FF brainstorm)
• Extension installation - one click to permanently add site to whitelist (FF brainstorm)
• Virus/Malware protection - integrate sandboxing feature like Sandboxie; integrate virus scanning and malware protection for retrieved content/files (FF brainstorm)
• Protected Mode - runs in isolation from other applications in the OS. Restricts exploits and malware from writing to any location beyond Temporary Internet Files without explicit user consent (IE7)
• Warn me when sites try to install add-ons (FF)
• Prevent malware attacks in real-time with behavior-based profiling algorithms (Haute Secure)
• Prevent malware attacks using virtual machine techniques (GreenBorder)

Anti-Phishing

• Highlight URL domain name in address bar (in FF3)
• Address bar protection - every window, including pop-ups, will show you an address bar (IE)
• AJAX - ability to disable AJAX on certain sites; notify user if asynchronous calls are being made on user's behalf (FF brainstorm)
• Phishing Protection - warn users of suspected forgery (phishing) sites, and offer to take user to search page to find the real webiste they were looking for
  • Make it easier to report phishing sites
  • Implement phishing filter that learns automatically; integrate w/ PhishTank
• Blacklisting
• Whitelisting
• Security status bar - color-coded notifications appear next to the address bar to notify user of website security and privacy settings. Address Bar turns green for websites bearing new High Assurance certificates (IE)
• International domain name anti-spoofing - notifies user when visually similar characters in the URL are not expressed in the same language (IE)
• openID - decentralized single sign-on system that is possibly vulnerable to phishing attacks
• Tell me if the site I'm visiting is a suspected forgery (FF)
  • Check using a downloaded list of suspected sites
  • Check by asking Google about each site I visit
• Surf by IP protection (FF brainstorm)
  • Disallow visiting sites by IP address (IP anywhere in URL)
  • Allow local LAN IPs

Content Enabling

• NoScript - allows JavaScript, Java and other executable content to run only from trusted domains of your choice (FF extension)
• Enable plug-ins (Safari)
  • Block flash animations (Camino)
• Load images automatically (FF)
• Enable Java (FF)
  • Click to run applets (Omniweb)
• Enable JavaScript (FF)
  • Allow scripts to: (FF)
    • Move or resize existing windows
    • Raise or lower windows
    • Disable or replace context menus
    • Hide the status bar
    • Change status bar text
    • Reorder windows (OmniWeb)
• Block pop-up windows (FF)
• Block web advertising (Camino)

Cookies

• Accepting cookies (FF)
  • Exceptions (FF)
  • Show cookies/cookie manager (FF)
  • Discard when quitting (FF)
  • Only from the current site (OmniWeb)

Passwords

• Remember passwords for sites (FF)
  • Exceptions
  • Show passwords
• Use a master password (FF)
  • Change master password

Warning Messages

• Secure Defaults/No Security Pop-ups - remove security pop-ups because users are trained to click on the default button to complete their task. Use secure defaults instead, and only provide notifications at the top of the browser (FF brainstorm)
• Fix my settings - instantly reset internet security settings to "medium-high" default by clicking option in Information Bar. The browser warns user with Information Bar when current security settings may put you at risk. The bar continues to remind you as long as settings remain unsafe. Internet Control Panel highlights critical items in red when they are unsafely configured. (IE7)
• Bookmarklets - warn users when attempting to bookmark javascript code (FF brainstorm)
• Show a warning dialog when (FF)
  • I am about to view an encrypted page.
  • I am about to view a page that uses low-grade encryption
  • I leave an encrypted page for one that isn't encrypted
  • I submit information that's not encrypted
  • I'm about to view an encrypted page that contains some unencrypted information
  • Warn when sending form data by email (iCab)
  • Moving from a secure to an insecure page (Camino)

Encryption (Protocols and Certificates)

• Lock icon - provides detailed information about the site's security certificate (in FF)
• Digital signature information - provides more information about the publisher of a program and whether the program is digitally signed (IE Screenshot)
• Use SSL 3.0 Protocol (FF)
• Use SSL 2.0 Protocol (Flock)
• Use TLS 1.1 Protocol (Opera)
• Use TLS 1.0 Protocol (FF)
• Certificate options (FF)

Other

• Automated update - always checks to see if you're running the latest version, and notifies you when a security update is available (FF)

NOTES

Information Provided

• page info (click on lock)
• secure defaults/ no security pop-ups
• highlight URL domain name in address bar
• Digital Signature Information - provides more information about the publisher of a program as well as whether the program is digitally signed (IE screenshot)
• Address bar protection - Every window, whether it's a pop-up or standard window, will show you an address bar, helping to block malicious sites from emulating trusted sites. (IE)
• Fix My Settings - To help protect you from browsing with unsafe settings, Internet Explorer 7 warns you with an Information Bar when current security settings may put you at risk. Within the Internet Control Panel, you will see certain critical items highlighted in red when they are unsafely configured. The Information Bar will continue to remind you as long as the settings remain unsafe. You can instantly reset Internet security settings to the "Medium-High" default level by clicking the "Fix My Settings" option in the Information Bar. (IE)

Cross-Zone and Cross-Domain Vulnerabilities

• Cross-domain barriers - Internet Explorer 7 helps to prevent the script on webpages from interacting with content from other domains or windows. This enhanced safeguard gives you additional protection against malware by helping to prevent malicious websites from manipulating flaws in other websites or causing you to download undesired content or software. (IE)

Malware detection

• bookmarklets
• Downloads - if web page uses script to try to pop up a download box and force you to deal with it, IE intercepts the script and displays a prompt in the Info bar instead. (IE screenshot)
• Protection from Spyware - notification whenever downloading or installing software
• download actions - don't downloda
• extension installation
• virus/malware protection
• Protected mode Internet Explorer 7 in Windows Vista runs in isolation from other applications in the operating system. It restricts exploits and malicious software from writing to any location beyond Temporary Internet Files without explicit user consent. (IE)
• script execution

Anti-phishing

• AJAX
• Phishing Protection - warn users of suspected forgery (phishing) sites, and offer to take user to search page to find the real Web site they were looking for.
  • make easier to report phishing sites
  • implementing phishing filter that learns automatically - integration w/ phishTank
• blacklisting
• whitelisting
• Security Status bar - Color-coded notifications appear next to the address bar to make you aware of website security and privacy settings. The Address Bar changes to green for websites bearing new High Assurance certificates, indicating the site owner has completed extensive identity verification checks. Phishing Filter notifications, certificate names, and the gold padlock icon also appear next to the address bar for better visibility. You can easily display certificate and privacy detail information with a single click on the Security Status bar. (IE)
• International domain name anti-spoofing - In addition to adding support for International Domain Names in URLs, Internet Explorer also notifies you when visually similar characters in the URL are not expressed in the same language—protecting you against sites that could otherwise appear as known, trustworthy sites. (IE)
• openID - decentralized single sign-on system - possible security weaknesses and may prove vulnerable to phishing attacks

Options

• Options
  • warn me when sites try to install add-ons
    • exceptions
  • tell me if the site i'm visiting is a suspected forgery (phishing)
    • check using a downloaded list of suspected sites
    • check by asking Google about each site I visit
  • remember passwords for sites
    • exceptions
  • use a master password
  • security warnings
    • i am about to view an encrypted page
    • i am about to view a page that uses low-grade encryption
    • i leave an encrypted page for one that isn't encrypted
    • i submit information that's not encrypted
    • warn when sending Form data by email (iCab)
    • i'm about to view an encrypted page that contains some unencrypted information
    • moving from a secure to an insecure page (camino)
  • encryption
    • Use SSL 3.0 Protocol
    • Use SSL 2.0 Protocol (Flock)
    • Use TLS 1.0 Protocol
    • Use TLS 1.1 Protocol (Opera)
    • Certificates
    • Manager Security Devices (SeaMonkey)
  • enable plug-ins (safari)
    • block flash animations (camino)
  • enable java (safari)
    • click to run applets (Omniweb)
  • enable javascript (safari)
    • allow scripts to reorder windows (omniweb)
    • allow scripts to resize windows (omniweb)
  • block pop-up windows (safari)
  • block web advertising (camino)
  • prevent sites from changing, moving or resizing windows (camino)
  • accepting cookies (safari)
    • only from the current site (omniweb)
    • discard when quitting omniweb (omniweb)
    • cookie manager (SeaMonkey)
• surf by ip protection

• SeaMonkey Categories
  • Cookies
  • Images
  • Popup Windows
  • Forms
  • Passwords
  • SSL
  • Certificates
  • Validation
    • Manage Certificate Revocation Lists
    • use Online Certificate Status Protocol for certificate validation

The following will be done in a table with notes and observations following as footnotes.

• - identify capabilities before diving in
• - exclude "private browsing"/privacy

• pop ups
• Automated Update - always checks to see if you’re running the latest version, and notifies you when a security update is available.

• Extensions
  • NoScript - It allows JavaScript, Java and other executable content to run only from trusted domains of your choice, e.g. your home-banking web site, and guards the "trust boundaries" against cross-site scripting attacks (XSS)

• ActiveX opt-in - Disable nearly all pre-installed ActiveX controls to prevent potentially vulnerable controls from being exposed to attack. You can easily enable or disable ActiveX controls as needed through the Information Bar and the Add-on Manager. (IE)

• URL handling security - Redesigned URL parsing ensures consistent processing and minimizes possible exploits. The new URL handler helps centralize critical data parsing and increases data consistency throughout the application. (IE)

Pain Points

• Users ignore security indicators and click through warning dialogs (analogy is "whack-a-mole"); focus is on completing tasks
  • Users security indicators are out of the way and hard to interpret; terminology is confusing
    • Security UI needs to be clear and simple
    • In certain situations, it may help if the browser makes a decision for the user while still offering the user another option
    • Security UI must balance obviousness with unintrusiveness, convey clarity in reasonable size, and reflect complexity with simplicity - talk to Jonathan Nightingale

Browsers to investigate

• Firefox 2
• Camino
• Flock
• iCab
• IE 7
• Maxthon
• Netscape
• OmniWeb
• Opera
• Safari
• SeaMonkey
• Shiira

Add-ons to investigate

Firefox

• Adblock
• NoScript
• CookieCuller
• CookiePie
• VeriSign EV Green Bar Extension
• FirePhish Anti-Phishing Extension
• PhishTank SiteChecker
• Finjan SecureBrowsing
• iTrustPage
• YesScript - JavaScript blacklist

Desktop apps to investigate

• Haute Secure - prevent malware attacks in real-time with behavior-based profiling algorithms
• GreenBorder - prevents malware attacks using virtual machine techniques