This is the code Comcast is injecting into its users web traffic.

README.md

Above is the code Comcast is injecting into their customers web traffic when they need to display an "important message".

Feel free to read the blog post that goes along with this code.

ComcastInject.html

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
// Comcast Cable Communications, LLC Proprietary. Copyright 2012.
// Intended use is to display browser notifications for critical and time sensitive alerts.
var SYS_URL='/e8f6b078-0f35-11de-85c5-efc5ef23aa1f/aupm/notify.do';
// var image_url='http://servicealerts.comcast.net:8080/images/mt';
var image_url='http://xfinity.comcast.net/constantguard/BotAssistance/notice/images';
var headertext1='<strong>Comcast Courtesy Notice</strong>';
var textline1='You have reached 90% of your <b>monthly data usage allowance</b>.';
var textline2='Please sign in for more information and to remove this alert.';
var acknowledgebutton='<a href=\"#\" onClick="document.location.href=\''+SYS_URL+'?dispatch=redirect&redirectName=login&paramName=bmUid\'" title="Sign in to acknowledge" style="color: #FFFFFF;"><img alt="Sign in to acknowledge" src="'+image_url+'/mt_signin.png"/></a>';
var verifybulletin='<a href="http://customer.comcast.com/help-and-support/internet/data-usage-plans-nash/" target="_new">How do I know this message is from Comcast?</a>';

if(self.location==top.location) {
document.write('<style type="text/css">');
document.write('#comcast_content {width: 600px; height:240px; box-shadow: 10px 10px 5px #888; background: #fff; border: 1px solid #454545; position:absolute; top:50px; left:100px; zoom:1; z-index: 9999999; opacity:0.90; filter:alpha(opacity=90);}');
document.write('#comcast_content .header {height: 35px; background:url('+image_url+'/headerbg.gif) repeat-x;}');
document.write('#comcast_content .a {color: #00a3e0;}');
document.write('#comcast_content .logo {float:left;}');
document.write('#comcast_content .content-wrapper {padding-left: 18px; padding-right: 15px; padding-bottom: 12px;}');
document.write('#comcast_content .headerimage { margin-top: 15px;}');
document.write('#comcast_content .header1 {margin: 18px 0 0 0; color: #C00000; padding: 3px; font: 23px/24px bold Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;}');
document.write('#comcast_content .textcontent {margin: 12px 0 0 0; text-align: center; color: #303030; word-spacing: 0px; font: 14px/15px Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 1.20;}');
document.write('#comcast_content .acknowledge {padding-top:6px; text-align: center;}');
document.write('#comcast_content .how-do-i {float:left; position:absolute; bottom:20px; left:18px; margin: 12px 0 0 0; font: 13px/14px bold Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: bottom;}');
document.write('#comcast_content .comcast-wrapper {float:right; position:absolute; bottom:15px; right:18px; padding-top:0px; text-align: right;}');
document.write('</style>');
document.write('<div class="main-wrapper" id="comcast_content">');
document.write('<div class="header" onmousedown="javascript:dragStart(event,\'comcast_content\')">');
document.write('<img src="'+image_url+'/xfinity-logo.gif" alt="Xfinity" class="logo"/>');
document.write('</div>');
document.write('<div class="content-wrapper">');
document.write('<p class="header1">');
document.write(headertext1);
document.write('</p>');
document.write('<p class="textcontent">');
document.write(textline1);
document.write('</p>');
document.write('<p class="textcontent">');
document.write(textline2);
document.write('</p>');
document.write('<p class="how-do-i">');
document.write(verifybulletin);
document.write('</p>');
document.write('<div class="acknowledge">');
document.write(acknowledgebutton);
document.write('</div>');
document.write('<div class="comcast-wrapper">');
document.write('<img src="'+image_url+'/message-by-comcast.gif" alt="Message by Comcast"/>');
document.write('</div>');
document.write('</div>');
document.write('</div>');
}

// Function to Determine browser and version. Copyright 2001 by Mike Hall.
// See http://www.brainjar.com for terms of use.

function Browser() {  
var ua, s, i;  
this.isIE  = false; 
this.isNS  = false; 
this.version = null;  
ua = navigator.userAgent;  
s = "MSIE"; 
if ((i = ua.indexOf(s)) >= 1) { 
	this.isIE = true; this.version = parseFloat(ua.substr(i + s.length)); return; 
}  
s = "Netscape6/"; 
if ((i = ua.indexOf(s)) >= 0) { 
	this.isNS = true; this.version = parseFloat(ua.substr(i + s.length)); return; 
}  
s = "Gecko"; 
if ((i = ua.indexOf(s)) >= 0) { 
	this.isNS = true; this.version = 6.1; return; 
} 
}  
var browser1 = new Browser();    
var dragObj = new Object(); 
dragObj.zIndex = 99999;  
function dragStart(event, id) {  
var el; 
var x, y;   
if (id) dragObj.elNode = document.getElementById(id); 
else { 
	if (browser1.isIE) dragObj.elNode = window.event.srcElement; 
	if (browser1.isNS) dragObj.elNode = event.target;   
	if (dragObj.elNode.nodeType == 3) dragObj.elNode = dragObj.elNode.parentNode; 
}   
if (browser1.isIE) { 
	x = window.event.clientX + document.documentElement.scrollLeft + document.body.scrollLeft; 
	y = window.event.clientY + document.documentElement.scrollTop + document.body.scrollTop; 
} 
if (browser1.isNS) { 
	x = event.clientX + window.scrollX; 
	y = event.clientY + window.scrollY; 
}   
dragObj.cursorStartX = x; 
dragObj.cursorStartY = y; 
dragObj.elStartLeft = parseInt(dragObj.elNode.style.left, 10); 
dragObj.elStartTop  = parseInt(dragObj.elNode.style.top, 10);  
if (isNaN(dragObj.elStartLeft)) dragObj.elStartLeft = 100; 
if (isNaN(dragObj.elStartTop)) dragObj.elStartTop = 50;    
if (browser1.isIE) { 
	document.attachEvent("onmousemove", dragGo); 
	document.attachEvent("onmouseup",  dragStop); 
	window.event.cancelBubble = true; 
	window.event.returnValue = false; } 
if (browser1.isNS) { 
	document.addEventListener("mousemove", dragGo,  true); 
	document.addEventListener("mouseup",  dragStop, true); 
	event.preventDefault(); 
} 
}  

// End Function

function dragGo(event) {  
var x, y;   
if (browser1.isIE) { 
	x = window.event.clientX + document.documentElement.scrollLeft + document.body.scrollLeft; 
	y = window.event.clientY + document.documentElement.scrollTop + document.body.scrollTop; 
} 
if (browser1.isNS) { 
	x = event.clientX + window.scrollX; y = event.clientY + window.scrollY; 
}   
dragObj.elNode.style.left = (dragObj.elStartLeft + x - dragObj.cursorStartX) + "px"; 
dragObj.elNode.style.top = (dragObj.elStartTop + y - dragObj.cursorStartY) + "px";  
if (browser1.isIE) { window.event.cancelBubble = true; window.event.returnValue = false; } 
if (browser1.isNS) event.preventDefault(); }  

function dragStop(event) {   
if (browser1.isIE) {
	document.detachEvent("onmousemove", dragGo); 
	document.detachEvent("onmouseup",  dragStop); 
} 
if (browser1.isNS) { 
	document.removeEventListener("mousemove", dragGo,  true); 
	document.removeEventListener("mouseup",  dragStop, true); 
} 
}  

var xmlhttp=false; /*@cc_on @*/ /*@if (@_jscript_version >= 5) try { xmlhttp = new ActiveXObject("Msxml2.XMLHTTP"); } catch (e) { try {  xmlhttp = new ActiveXObject("Microsoft.XMLHTTP"); } catch (E) {  xmlhttp = false; } } @end @*/ if (!xmlhttp && typeof XMLHttpRequest!='undefined') { try { xmlhttp = new XMLHttpRequest(); } catch (e) {        xmlhttp=false;    } } if (!xmlhttp && window.createRequest) {    try { xmlhttp = window.createRequest(); } catch (e) { xmlhttp=false; } }   

function acknowledge() { sendAck(); document.getElementById('comcast_content').style.display="none"; } 
function sendAck(){ xmlhttp.open("GET", SYS_URL+'?dispatch=ackBulletin',true); xmlhttp.send(null) }

var comcastCheck=1;
var comcastTimer;
function checkBulletin(){
if(comcastCheck==0) { return; }
xmlhttp.open("GET", SYS_URL+'?dispatch=checkBulletin',true);
xmlhttp.onreadystatechange = function() {
if (xmlhttp.readyState == 4) {
	if(xmlhttp.responseText.indexOf('43a1028c-7d11-11de-b687-1f15c5ad6a13')==-1){
		document.getElementById('comcast_content').style.display="none";
		comcastCheck=1;
	}
	comcastTimer=setTimeout("checkBulletin()",5000);
	}; 
};
xmlhttp.send(null);
}
checkBulletin();
</script>

Do they also intercept requests to the SYS_URL and inject the appropriate response from their own system or does it actually cause a 404 on the remote server (when you run this on comcasts network) ?

Has anybody else on Comcast confirmed this? I'm on Comcast Xfinity in Conyers, GA... Just SSH'ed home and wget'ed a few URLs of mine, no such injection. Maybe they're smart enough to limit it to certain User-Agent strings, or certain major dmains... or this isn't implemented everywhere yet? Or just a hoax...?

@jantman based upon the content of the notice, it isnt doing this for all requests it runs across it's wires - it looks like this is only injected upon 'reaching 90% of your monthly data usage allowance'.

Rogers Cable here in Canada has been doing the same thing for a while, as while has inserting their own ad filled 'search' pages for DNS and 404 errors.

@vfulco Yes, a VPN, tunnel or similar connection would bypass this. You could also get around it with either layer7 filtering or a browser script/extension. Or if you're really paranoid, disable javascript or use a text browser.

Even for someone that doesn't do any web coding for a living this looks like utter crap.
Is the hmm... coding style original, or was identation messed up when copypasting?

@bparker06 any ideas what Chrome extensions might address this?

Another point in favor of https

Dat // End Function

$('#comcast_content').remove();

Simply inspirational

@nitelite Nope, it actually causes a 404 on your server.

@nekromant This is exactly how it appears when injected into the page. Nothing has been changed.

I'm releasing a Chrome extension to block this injection. You can expect it to be released by 2pm PST today. You can follow me on Twitter for updates: @ChristianBundy

Done!

How can a chrome extension stop a MITM without using some 3rd party service? Sure, you can remove it after it's already there, but that isn't really the issue here.

Everyone here is bitching about how bad this is (I agree) but no one's actually checked.

I'm on comcast, just fired up firebug and took a look at a few pages - they aren't injecting anything. I think this only happens if you absolutely DESTROY your bandwidth allotment. I go around 500gb+ a month and haven't had any warnings. So as much as I hate comcast I have to give them the benefit of the doubt here.

@Sushisource When you say that everyone is bitching about it and you agree, this implies you're bitching too. That and people don't need to check because the injected code obviously only appears when you're out of bandwidth.

As a point of interest, Cox did something very similar to this when their email servers blew up not too long ago.

Here's a Google Chrome extension to block this injection!

The document.write method is just too easy to block.

if (div = document.getElementById('comcast_content')) {
  div.parentNode.removeChild(div);
}

Tweet at me for love/hate/boredom.

@Sushisource Incorrect. I was around 280GB when this message started appearing. I live in the Nashville area where they actually enforce a hard cap, not a soft cap.

You can read more about it here: http://customer.comcast.com/help-and-support/internet/data-usage-what-are-the-different-plans-launching

Charter injects a frame into the top of your pages when your bill is past due.

🍺 reminds me 90s primary school coding challenge.

Why is everyone so surprised that their JS is shit? They suck at literally everything else, why not JS also?

Here is some new code they are injecting for copyright violations: https://gist.github.com/frank-weindel/d4e6accfdadc44652f43

You can experience this by purchasing some internet time through one of their wifi hotspots also. You will get slide-ins that advertise internet packages to you.

After some google-fu, I learned they use a 3rd party technology to do this, its called FrontPorch. Here is a detailed document that explains what this technology is capable of:
https://net.educause.edu/Elements/Attachments/rfi/vendors/frontporch.pdf
http://www.frontporch.com

Enjoy

As an Xfinity customer, I'm legitimately concerned about the security flaws that this exposes. No one should be injecting advertisements for a service that I already pay for, and exposing my system to security risks. Reckless.

I'm not even joking, but in the injection I just saw (Dec 29th 2016)

<script language="JavaScript" type="text/javascript">
// Comcast Cable Communications, LLC Propriertary, Copyright (C) 2012-2013 Comcast
// Intended use of this message is to display critical and time sensitive notifications to customers.

Note the spelling of "Propriertary".

This is ridiculous. I can confirm it happens, as I have now received such notifications at least 3 times. I'm curious as to whether or not I can report this behavior to the FTC. The more reports they get about stuff like this, the more likely they are to do something about it. They must be doing something illegal here. Even if it's just using GPL code without permission.
I really hate Comcast as it is already, but when they are basically the monopoly where you live (no other provider), this is not just your run of the mill security flaw. Internet is a utility, and everyone needs it. To simply claim we can just stop paying Comcast is a gross oversimplification of the problem & completely ignores the fact this is a huge security flaw, not to mention the fact I think they're not allowed to hijack or inject your connection? Where the hell is consumer protection? Why is this allowed?

It's bad enough that they are imposing a bandwidth cap at all, especially when they are obviously lying about their reasons, and lying to customers by saying nonsense about how less than 1% of users use more than 1TB in a month, and that those people cause any sort of problem whatsoever, or that it should cost more or less depending on how much you use. That is retarded. Anyone with half a brain knows this is just a grab for more money. It doesn't cost them a dime extra to let the supposed 1% use more than that 1TB, not to mention the fact that 1% isn't even enough of a percentage to be worth doing anything about. Take into consideration the fact that these users are technically just using the bandwidth that isn't used by those people using less than 100gb in a month.... anyway, I feel like everyone is just allowing comcast to bend them over & taking it like they have to. Report them to the FTC. Do something. Just because data caps don't affect you, doesn't mean they are acceptable, or reasonable. You're screwing the rest of us. It is extremely unreasonable to charge overage fees the way they do. They can charge you up to $200 for overage. Per month. If you want truly unlimited internet, like you've been paying for FOR YEARS, and signed a contract for, you have to pay an additional $50 a month, on top of the amount you already pay, which is bullshit considering the fact you're paying for speeds you don't even get 1/8th of on a good day (even with a badass, brand new, super fast router & modem you pay for yourself)..... :(

@hydranix LOL at propriertary.

@SpaceOctopus this is legal unfortunately. I would suggest writing letters to your representative(s). If enough people make enough noise about this, eventually a bill could be brought to make this practice illegal.

@r3wt how is this legal? what law makes it legal? When a customer is coming to my site and they intercept the code that I own the copyright to and modify it, they are illegally making a derivative work of my code. I don't see how anyone can claim this is legal. I am waiting for a response from our attorneys, we are looking for any cases that legalize this, but right now I don't see how anyone can claim this is legal.

still getting this message in 2019. doesn't seem like a very "critical time sensitive" notification.
how is this legal !?!? i thought for sure i had a virus.
http://bsonspec.org/spec.html is the page i was visiting