CVE-2008-4058 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The XPConnect component in Mozilla Firefox before 2.0.0.17 and 3.x before 3.0.2, Thunderbird before 2.0.0.17, and SeaMonkey before 1.1.12 allows remote attackers to "pollute XPCNativeWrappers" and execute arbitrary code with chrome privileges via vectors related to (1) chrome XBL and (2) chrome JS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-4058 represents a critical security flaw in the XPConnect component of Mozilla Firefox and related applications. This component serves as a bridge between JavaScript and native C++ code within the browser's architecture, enabling web content to interact with privileged chrome-level functionality. The vulnerability specifically affects versions prior to Firefox 2.0.0.17 and 3.x before 3.0.2, Thunderbird before 2.0.0.17, and SeaMonkey before 1.1.12, creating a significant attack surface for remote code execution.
The technical flaw stems from improper handling of XPCNativeWrappers which are used to wrap native C++ objects for JavaScript access within the browser's chrome context. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web content that manipulates the XPCNativeWrapper pollution mechanism through two primary vectors: chrome XBL (XML Binding Language) and chrome JavaScript. XBL allows developers to define reusable UI components with associated JavaScript behavior, while chrome JavaScript operates with elevated privileges within the browser's core environment. When these components interact improperly with XPConnect, they create opportunities for attackers to inject malicious code that executes with chrome privileges rather than regular user privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code with the highest privilege level available within the browser environment. Chrome privileges provide access to sensitive system resources, file operations, network communications, and browser internals that regular web content cannot access. This privilege escalation allows attackers to perform actions such as reading arbitrary files from the local system, modifying browser configuration, intercepting network traffic, and potentially gaining further access to the underlying operating system. The vulnerability essentially bypasses the security model that separates user content from privileged browser operations, creating a direct pathway for malicious code execution.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 Improper Access Control and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution. The attack vectors specifically relate to T1068 for local privilege escalation and T1203 for exploitation of remote services. Organizations should implement immediate mitigation through patch management to update all affected browsers to versions 2.0.0.17 or later, ensuring that the XPConnect component properly validates and sanitizes XPCNativeWrapper operations. Additionally, administrators should consider implementing content security policies and restricting access to potentially dangerous JavaScript APIs to minimize the attack surface and prevent exploitation of similar vulnerabilities in the future.