CVE-2006-3805 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The Javascript engine in Mozilla Firefox before 1.5.0.5, Thunderbird before 1.5.0.5, and SeaMonkey before 1.0.3 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors involving garbage collection that causes deletion of a temporary object that is still being used.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/13/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2006-3805 represents a critical memory safety issue affecting the JavaScript engine implementations in Mozilla Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey products. This flaw resides in the garbage collection mechanism of these applications, specifically when handling temporary objects that are prematurely deleted while still in active use. The vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that can lead to arbitrary code execution, making it particularly dangerous for remote attackers who can exploit it through web content or email messages.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of object lifecycle management within the JavaScript engine's garbage collection process. When the garbage collector identifies temporary objects for deletion, it fails to properly track references to these objects, resulting in situations where objects are freed from memory while still being referenced or used by active JavaScript code. This creates a classic use-after-free condition where memory that has been deallocated is subsequently accessed, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential code execution. The flaw is particularly insidious because it operates at the intersection of memory management and scripting execution, making it difficult to detect and exploit reliably.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users of affected software versions as it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on vulnerable systems without requiring any user interaction beyond viewing malicious content. The attack vector typically involves hosting malicious JavaScript code on a web server or embedding it in email messages delivered through Thunderbird. Once executed, the compromised JavaScript engine could allow attackers to gain full control over the affected system, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or further network infiltration. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Mozilla-based applications, making it particularly impactful across the Mozilla ecosystem.
The security implications of this vulnerability extend beyond immediate exploitation capabilities to include broader memory safety concerns within the JavaScript engine architecture. This type of memory corruption vulnerability is commonly associated with CWE-416, which addresses use-after-free conditions, and may also relate to CWE-122, dealing with heap-based buffer overflow conditions. The flaw demonstrates the complexity of modern JavaScript engines and their interaction with memory management systems, highlighting the need for rigorous testing of garbage collection mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as the vulnerability was addressed through version updates that corrected the object lifecycle management within the JavaScript engine's garbage collection routines. Additionally, security teams should implement monitoring for exploitation attempts and consider network-level protections to prevent access to known malicious content until full remediation is achieved.