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Security Enhancement for WebSockets to Prevent Private Network Mapping
draft-gallagher-hybiwebsocketenhancement-00

Document Type Expired Internet-Draft (individual)
Expired & archived
Author Tom Gallagher
Last updated 2017-01-08 (Latest revision 2016-07-07)
RFC stream (None)
Intended RFC status (None)
Formats
Stream Stream state (No stream defined)
Consensus boilerplate Unknown
RFC Editor Note (None)
IESG IESG state Expired
Telechat date (None)
Responsible AD (None)
Send notices to (None)

This Internet-Draft is no longer active. A copy of the expired Internet-Draft is available in these formats:

Abstract

This document proposes an update to RFC 6455 (WebSockets) which would enhance security by preventing network mapping via WebSockets. By comparing timing differences between failed opening handshakes, WebSockets can be abused within web browsers to discover details about a target's private network. WebSocket network mapping is more efficient than other in-browser mapping techniques as it can take advantage of child WebWorker processes to bypass the throttling mitigations in many browsers. An attacker can exploit this browser weakness when a victim accesses an attacker-controlled web page.

Authors

Tom Gallagher

(Note: The e-mail addresses provided for the authors of this Internet-Draft may no longer be valid.)