CVE-2008-2807 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox before 2.0.0.15 and SeaMonkey before 1.1.10 do not properly handle an invalid .properties file for an add-on, which allows remote attackers to read uninitialized memory, as demonstrated by use of ISO 8859 encoding instead of UTF-8 encoding in a French .properties file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/16/2021
This vulnerability exists in Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 2.0.0.15 and SeaMonkey versions prior to 1.1.10 where the application fails to properly validate and handle malformed .properties files used in add-ons. The flaw occurs when an attacker crafts a malicious .properties file that uses incorrect encoding specifications, specifically substituting ISO 8859 encoding for the expected UTF-8 encoding. This improper handling creates a memory corruption scenario that allows remote attackers to access uninitialized memory regions through the add-on loading process.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the add-on management subsystem of these browsers. When Firefox or SeaMonkey processes an add-on's .properties file, it does not adequately sanitize the encoding declaration before attempting to parse the file contents. This creates a buffer overread condition where the application attempts to read memory locations that have not been properly initialized or allocated, potentially exposing sensitive data from the application's memory space. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read, which represents a fundamental memory safety issue that can lead to information disclosure or potential code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it enables remote attackers to perform information disclosure attacks by reading uninitialized memory. This memory may contain sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other confidential information that was previously stored in the memory locations. The attack vector requires the victim to install or load a malicious add-on, which could be delivered through various means including compromised websites, malicious add-on repositories, or social engineering tactics. The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of how improper input handling in application components can create security risks that affect end-user systems.
The attack scenario typically involves an attacker creating a specially crafted .properties file with incorrect encoding specifications that triggers the memory access issue when the browser processes the add-on. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1195.002 which covers 'Supply Chain Compromise: Software Update', as attackers could exploit this weakness through malicious add-on distribution channels. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Firefox and SeaMonkey, implementing add-on reputation systems, and monitoring for suspicious add-on installations. Additionally, security teams should consider network-level controls to restrict access to known malicious add-on sources and implement browser hardening measures to limit the impact of such vulnerabilities in environments where immediate patching is not feasible.