CVE-2009-1302 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The browser engine in Mozilla Firefox 3.x before 3.0.9, Thunderbird before 2.0.0.22, and SeaMonkey before 1.1.16 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly trigger memory corruption via vectors related to (1) nsAsyncInstantiateEvent::Run, (2) nsStyleContext::Destroy, (3) nsComputedDOMStyle::GetWidth, (4) the xslt_attributeset_ImportSameName.html test case for the XSLT stylesheet compiler, (5) nsXULDocument::SynchronizeBroadcastListener, (6) IsBindingAncestor, (7) PL_DHashTableOperate and nsEditor::EndUpdateViewBatch, and (8) gfxSkipCharsIterator::SetOffsets, and other vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2019
This vulnerability affects the core browser engine of mozilla firefox 3.x series and related applications including thunderbird and seamonkey. The flaw manifests as a series of memory corruption issues that can be exploited remotely to cause application crashes or potentially more severe memory corruption conditions. The vulnerability spans multiple components within the rendering and processing pipeline including event handling mechanisms, style context management, xslt compilation, and graphics rendering operations. Attackers can leverage these vectors to disrupt service availability or potentially execute arbitrary code through memory corruption exploitation techniques.
The technical exploitation involves several distinct code paths that all lead to similar memory safety issues. The nsAsyncInstantiateEvent::Run function represents one such pathway where asynchronous event processing can lead to heap corruption. Similarly, nsStyleContext::Destroy demonstrates improper memory deallocation patterns that can result in use-after-free conditions. The nsComputedDOMStyle::GetWidth function exhibits issues with memory management during style computations. The xslt_attributeset_ImportSameName.html test case reveals vulnerabilities in the xslt stylesheet compiler where malformed input can trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption. Other vectors include nsXULDocument::SynchronizeBroadcastListener, IsBindingAncestor, PL_DHashTableOperate, nsEditor::EndUpdateViewBatch, and gfxSkipCharsIterator::SetOffsets, each representing different areas where improper memory handling occurs.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions. While the primary effect is application crash and service disruption, the potential for memory corruption opens doors to more serious exploitation scenarios. Remote attackers can leverage these flaws to cause persistent service degradation or potentially achieve code execution through carefully crafted malicious content. The vulnerability affects multiple versions across different mozilla products, indicating a systemic issue within the browser engine's memory management and processing logic. This widespread impact suggests that the underlying architectural problems affect core components rather than isolated modules, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for organizations relying on these applications.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected versions to address the root causes. Organizations should prioritize updating to the patched versions of firefox 3.0.9, thunderbird 2.0.0.22, and seamonkey 1.1.16 where these issues have been resolved. Network segmentation and content filtering can provide temporary protection while patches are deployed. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual application crashes or memory allocation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125 out-of-bounds read conditions and CWE-787 out-of-bounds write conditions as identified by the common weakness enumeration. From an attack framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to multiple ATT&CK techniques including privilege escalation through memory corruption and denial of service through application instability. Regular security assessments of browser engine components and memory management practices should be implemented to prevent similar issues in future development cycles.