CVE-2004-0757 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the SendUidl in the POP3 capability for Mozilla before 1.7, Firefox before 0.9, and Thunderbird before 0.7, may allow remote POP3 mail servers to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/16/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2004-0757 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting Mozilla applications including the Mozilla browser, Firefox web browser, and Thunderbird email client. This flaw exists within the SendUidl function of the POP3 capability implementation, specifically when processing email messages from POP3 servers. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the email client's handling of POP3 protocol responses, particularly when dealing with the Unique ID List (UIDL) command that identifies messages on POP3 servers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's failure to properly bounds-check data received from POP3 servers during the UIDL command processing. When a remote POP3 server sends malformed or excessively long UIDL responses, the application's heap memory allocation routines fail to validate the input length before copying data into fixed-size buffers. This allows an attacker controlling the POP3 server to overwrite adjacent heap memory regions, potentially corrupting program execution flow and enabling arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow under CWE-121, which specifically addresses buffer overflow conditions where memory allocated on the heap is accessed beyond its allocated bounds.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote code execution without requiring user interaction beyond receiving email messages. An attacker can compromise a victim's system simply by sending specially crafted email messages through a POP3 server, making this a particularly dangerous flaw for email clients that automatically fetch messages from remote servers. The vulnerability affects multiple widely-used applications including Mozilla browser versions prior to 1.7, Firefox versions before 0.9, and Thunderbird versions before 0.7, representing a substantial attack surface across the email and web browsing ecosystem. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1190 for Exploit Public-Facing Application, as it represents a remote exploitation vector through email protocols that are commonly exposed to external attackers.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected applications to versions containing memory safety improvements and input validation enhancements. Organizations should implement network-level controls to restrict access to POP3 servers from untrusted sources, particularly for email clients that automatically connect to external mail servers. Additionally, security configurations should disable automatic email fetching or implement strict input filtering for POP3 protocol responses. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management practices and input validation in network protocol implementations, highlighting the need for security-conscious development practices that prevent buffer overflow conditions through proper bounds checking and secure coding techniques. System administrators should also consider implementing email filtering and sandboxing mechanisms to reduce the attack surface and limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.