WebAPI/WidgetAPI

Goals

The widget API allows privileged APPs have ability to embed APPs in their own iframe, i.e. homescreen, lockscreen ....etc.

Proposal

embed-widgets bug 1005818

In order to expose to privileged APPs and consider security issue.

• "embed-widgets" is a new permission for "mozapp" attribute, it comes from 'embed-apps' but is more restricted. Please refer to next section.
• Set manifest entry in "widget" attribute.

 <iframe mozapp="manifesturl" widget="mywidget1">

extend manifest.webapp

Declare details of widget in mainfest.

 {
   name: "MyApp2000",
   ...
   widgets: {
     "mywidget1": {
       href: "widget.html"
       positions: ["homescreen", "lockscreen"]
       description: "This is my cool widget"
      },
      "myotherwidget": { ... }
   }
 }

Issues under discussion

Browser API

Need to clarify which methods/Events are safe or unsafe.

No Cross Origin implications

• Performance methods
  • setVisible()
  • getVisible()
  • purgeHistory()

• Navigation methods
  • reload()
  • stop()

• Event methods
  • addNextPaintListener()
  • removeNextPaintListener()

• Events
  • mozbrowserasyncscroll
  • mozbrowserclose
  • mozbrowsererror
  • mozbrowserloadend
  • mozbrowserloadstart

Cross-origin implications

• Event methods
  • sendMouseEvent() - cross-origin interaction, can cause unexpected actions in web apps
  • sendTouchEvent() - cross-origin interaction, can cause unexpected actions in web apps

• getScreenshot()

• Navigation methods - [pauljt:why are these unsafe?]
  • getCanGoBack()
  • goBack()
  • getCanGoForward()
  • goForward()

• Events
  • mozbrowserusernameandpasswordrequired - leaks host and realm
  • mozbrowseropenwindow (i.e. window.open)
  • mozbrowsershowmodalprompt (i.e. alert(), confirm(), prompt())
  • mozbrowsercontextmenu
  • mozbrowsersecuritychange - can tell is page is https or not
  • mozbrowserlocationchange - discloses URL (can contain secrets)
  • mozbrowsericonchange - discloses the icon URL. Might be a privacy issue.
  • mozbrowsertitlechange - discloses title, privacy issue.
  • mozbrowseropensearch - I assume this discloses the link value, maybe a privacy issue?