CVE-2006-2780 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird before 1.5.0.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via "jsstr tagify," which leads to memory corruption.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2006-2780 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird versions prior to 1.5.0.4. This security issue stems from improper handling of integer values during JavaScript string processing operations, specifically within the jsstr tagify functionality that manages string representations in the browser's JavaScript engine. The flaw occurs when the application processes certain malformed JavaScript code that triggers an integer overflow condition during memory allocation calculations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the JavaScript engine's string handling mechanisms where an attacker can craft malicious JavaScript code that causes integer overflow during the calculation of memory requirements for string operations. When the integer value exceeds the maximum representable value for the data type, it wraps around to a much smaller value, leading to insufficient memory allocation. This memory corruption scenario creates a condition where subsequent memory operations can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause system crashes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to users of affected browser versions as it enables remote code execution capabilities through web-based attacks. The integer overflow condition can be triggered via malicious web pages or email content that contains crafted JavaScript code, making it particularly dangerous for email clients like Thunderbird that process untrusted content. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially full system compromise, as the memory corruption can be leveraged to inject and execute malicious code within the browser's execution context.
The flaw aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1203, involving exploitation of software vulnerabilities for remote code execution. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems to address this vulnerability, as the window for exploitation remains significant given the widespread use of these browser versions. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider deploying web application firewalls or content filtering solutions as additional defensive measures. The vulnerability underscores the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in preventing memory corruption attacks that can lead to privilege escalation and system compromise.