CVE-2008-0017 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The http-index-format MIME type parser (nsDirIndexParser) in Firefox 3.x before 3.0.4, Firefox 2.x before 2.0.0.18, and SeaMonkey 1.x before 1.1.13 does not check for an allocation failure, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via an HTTP index response with a crafted 200 header, which triggers memory corruption and a buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/20/2019
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-0017 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the nsDirIndexParser component of Mozilla Firefox and SeaMonkey browsers. This issue affects versions prior to Firefox 3.0.4, Firefox 2.0.0.18, and SeaMonkey 1.1.13, demonstrating how legacy browser components can contain dangerous implementation gaps that expose systems to remote exploitation. The flaw specifically resides in the HTTP index format MIME type parser which processes directory listings returned by web servers, creating a potential attack surface when handling malformed HTTP responses.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient error handling within the nsDirIndexParser module where the code fails to properly validate memory allocation outcomes during the processing of HTTP index responses. When a remote attacker crafts a malicious HTTP response with a specially formatted 200 status header, the parser attempts to allocate memory for processing the directory listing without verifying whether the allocation succeeds. This omission creates a condition where memory corruption occurs, leading to unpredictable behavior in the browser's memory management system. The flaw manifests as a buffer overflow scenario that can be triggered through careful manipulation of HTTP response headers and content structure.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution, making it particularly dangerous for users who browse the internet without proper security measures. When exploited, the buffer overflow can cause the browser to crash and potentially allow attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code on the victim's system. This represents a classic example of a heap-based buffer overflow that can be leveraged for privilege escalation or system compromise, particularly affecting users running vulnerable browser versions in enterprise environments where browser security is paramount. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it highly effective for drive-by attacks.
The underlying cause of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of buffer sizes, and CWE-125, which covers out-of-bounds read conditions. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw maps to several ATT&CK techniques including T1059 for command and scripting interpreter usage and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation. Organizations should implement immediate patch management strategies to address this vulnerability, ensuring all affected browser installations are updated to versions containing the memory allocation failure checks. Additionally, network administrators should consider implementing web filtering solutions and browser hardening measures to mitigate potential exploitation attempts while waiting for comprehensive security updates to be deployed across all systems.