CVE-2004-1200 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Firefox and Mozilla allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash from memory consumption), as demonstrated using Javascript code that continuously creates nested arrays and then sorts the newly created arrays.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2004-1200 represents a critical denial of service flaw affecting Mozilla Firefox and the broader Mozilla browser suite. This issue stems from inadequate memory management within the JavaScript engine responsible for processing nested array operations. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious JavaScript code that continuously generates deeply nested arrays and subsequently sorts them, leading to excessive memory consumption and eventual application crash. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign scripting operations can be weaponized to exhaust system resources and disrupt normal browser functionality.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the insufficient bounds checking and memory allocation strategies employed by the JavaScript interpreter within these browsers. When the malicious code executes nested array creation followed by sorting operations, the JavaScript engine allocates memory for each array structure while maintaining references to these objects in memory. As the nesting depth increases and sorting operations multiply, memory consumption grows exponentially rather than linearly, creating a memory leak scenario that ultimately exhausts available heap space. This behavior aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation in software systems, and specifically relates to CWE-401, which addresses improper handling of memory allocation failures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple browser instability to encompass broader security implications for users and organizations. When exploited, the denial of service condition causes Firefox and Mozilla browsers to crash completely, forcing users to restart their browsing sessions and potentially lose unsaved work. This vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through standard web page content without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The exploit demonstrates a classic application-level denial of service vector that can be easily deployed at scale, making it attractive to threat actors seeking to disrupt user productivity or availability of web-based services.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2004-1200 should focus on both immediate defensive measures and long-term architectural improvements. Browser vendors should implement memory consumption limits and timeout mechanisms for JavaScript execution to prevent runaway processes from consuming excessive resources. Users should be advised to keep their browsers updated with the latest security patches, as this vulnerability was addressed in subsequent releases through improved memory management and garbage collection algorithms. The fix typically involves implementing proper memory limits for array operations and ensuring that JavaScript engines can detect and terminate infinite or excessively resource-intensive operations. This vulnerability also highlights the importance of following ATT&CK framework tactics, particularly T1499 which covers network denial of service, and emphasizes the need for robust input validation and resource management in web browser implementations. Organizations should consider implementing browser security policies that limit script execution time and memory usage, while also monitoring for unusual resource consumption patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.