CVE-2009-1304 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The JavaScript 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 involving (1) js_FindPropertyHelper, related to the definitions of Math and Date; and (2) js_CheckRedeclaration.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2019
This vulnerability resides in the JavaScript engine of Mozilla Firefox and related applications, specifically affecting versions prior to critical security updates. The flaw manifests through two distinct attack vectors that exploit memory management issues within the JavaScript interpreter. The first vector involves js_FindPropertyHelper function which handles property lookups during JavaScript execution, particularly when dealing with Math and Date object definitions. The second vector targets js_CheckRedeclaration functionality responsible for validating variable redeclarations in JavaScript code. Both vectors represent serious security weaknesses that could be leveraged by malicious actors to disrupt application functionality and potentially execute arbitrary code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking and memory management within the JavaScript engine's internal functions. When processing JavaScript code that involves Math and Date object manipulations, the js_FindPropertyHelper function fails to properly validate memory access patterns, leading to potential buffer overflows or memory corruption scenarios. Similarly, the js_CheckRedeclaration function does not adequately handle redeclaration validation, creating opportunities for stack corruption or heap-based memory issues. These flaws are classified under common weakness enumeration CWE-125 for out-of-bounds read errors and CWE-787 for out-of-bounds write conditions, representing fundamental memory safety issues in the interpreter.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable more sophisticated attacks. Remote attackers can craft malicious JavaScript payloads that trigger these memory corruption conditions, resulting in application crashes that may be exploited for privilege escalation or information disclosure. The vulnerability affects not only Firefox but also Thunderbird and SeaMonkey applications, creating widespread exposure across Mozilla-based software ecosystems. Attackers can leverage these conditions through web pages, email content, or other JavaScript execution contexts, making the attack surface particularly broad. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1499.004 for network denial of service, representing both execution and impact phases of attack chains.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate application of security patches provided by Mozilla. Organizations should prioritize updating Firefox 3.x to version 3.0.9 or later, Thunderbird to 2.0.0.22 or later, and SeaMonkey to 1.1.16 or later. System administrators should implement network-based protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls to prevent execution of malicious JavaScript code. Additionally, users should disable JavaScript in email clients and web browsers when not required, and maintain regular security updates for all software components. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of memory safety in interpreted languages and highlights the need for robust input validation and bounds checking mechanisms in JavaScript engines. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates and reduce exposure windows.