CVE-2008-0412 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The browser engine in Mozilla Firefox before 2.0.0.12, Thunderbird before 2.0.0.12, and SeaMonkey before 1.1.8 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly trigger memory corruption via vectors related to the (1) nsTableFrame::GetFrameAtOrBefore, (2) nsAccessibilityService::GetAccessible, (3) nsBindingManager::GetNestedInsertionPoint, (4) nsXBLPrototypeBinding::AttributeChanged, (5) nsColumnSetFrame::GetContentInsertionFrame, and (6) nsLineLayout::TrimTrailingWhiteSpaceIn methods, and other vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/04/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0412 represents a critical class of memory corruption issues affecting the browser engines of Mozilla Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey products. This vulnerability stems from multiple methods within the rendering and accessibility subsystems of these applications, specifically targeting internal frame management and content handling mechanisms. The flaw manifests through improper memory handling during the processing of complex web content, particularly when dealing with table layouts, accessibility services, and XBL (XML Binding Language) bindings. These methods operate at a low level within the browser engine, making them prime targets for exploitation as they interact directly with memory structures and object references during document rendering.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves several distinct code paths that can lead to memory corruption and subsequent system instability. The nsTableFrame::GetFrameAtOrBefore method handles frame positioning within table layouts and can be manipulated to cause invalid memory access patterns. Similarly, nsAccessibilityService::GetAccessible operates within the accessibility framework and may trigger memory corruption when processing complex accessibility trees. The nsBindingManager::GetNestedInsertionPoint and nsXBLPrototypeBinding::AttributeChanged methods deal with XML binding operations that can result in dangling pointer dereferences or buffer overflows. Additionally, nsColumnSetFrame::GetContentInsertionFrame and nsLineLayout::TrimTrailingWhiteSpaceIn methods within the layout engine can cause memory corruption when handling content insertion and whitespace processing operations. These vulnerabilities fall under CWE-125, Out-of-bounds Read, and CWE-787, Out-of-bounds Write, representing the core memory safety issues.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0412 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. While the primary effect is system crash and application instability, the underlying memory corruption vulnerabilities create opportunities for remote code execution. Attackers can craft malicious web content that, when processed by affected browsers, triggers these specific code paths and causes memory corruption. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, Exploitation for Client Execution, as it leverages browser engine flaws to execute arbitrary code on victim systems. The exploitation requires no special privileges and can be delivered through standard web browsing activities, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users frequently access untrusted web content.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected applications to the latest versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should prioritize updating Firefox to version 2.0.0.12 or later, Thunderbird to version 2.0.0.12 or later, and SeaMonkey to version 1.1.8 or later. Additionally, implementing network-based security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help reduce the risk of exploitation by blocking access to known malicious domains. Browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary features, implementing strict content security policies, and using sandboxing technologies provide additional layers of protection. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual browser crash patterns and memory access violations that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software and implementing comprehensive security practices to protect against sophisticated browser-based attacks that leverage memory corruption flaws.