Konqueror may inadvertently send authentication credentials to websites other than the intended website in clear text via the HTTP-referer header when authentication credentials are passed as part of a URL in the form of http://user:password@host/ The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures project (cve.mitre.org) has assigned the name CAN-2003-0459 to this issue. More Users of Konqueror may unknowingly distribute website authentication credentials to third parties with links on the password protected website. This may make it possible for those third parties to gain unauthorized access to the password protected website. Users of Konqueror may unknowingly send website authentication credentials in clear text across their local network and to websites of third parties. This may allow an attacker who is able to eavesdrop on such communication to obtain the credentials and use them to gain unauthorized access to the password protected website. 4. Solution: Users can reduce, but not totally eliminate, the risk by not providing any password as part of a URL. Instead they should provide the password in the KDE authentication dialog when prompted. Users of KDE 2.2.2 are advised to upgrade to KDE 3.1.3. A patch for KDE 2.2.2 is available as well for users that are unable to upgrade to KDE 3.1.
Users of KDE 3.0.x are advised to upgrade to KDE 3.1.3. A patch for KDE 3.0.5b is available as well for users that are unable to upgrade to KDE 3.1.
Users of KDE 3.1.x are advised to upgrade to KDE 3.1.3.
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