CVE-2009-2468 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in Apple CoreGraphics, as used in Safari before 4.0.3, Mozilla Firefox before 3.0.12, and Mac OS X 10.4.11 and 10.5.8, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a long text run that triggers a heap-based buffer overflow during font glyph rendering, a related issue to CVE-2009-1194.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/12/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2468 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within Apple CoreGraphics framework that affected multiple software applications and operating systems. This vulnerability specifically impacts the handling of text rendering operations, particularly when processing long text runs that trigger heap-based buffer overflows during font glyph rendering processes. The issue stems from improper validation of integer values when calculating buffer sizes needed for text display operations, creating conditions where maliciously crafted text input could cause memory corruption.
The technical flaw manifests as an integer overflow condition that occurs during font rendering operations within the CoreGraphics framework. When applications process text containing exceptionally long text runs, the system calculates buffer sizes using integer arithmetic that fails to properly validate input parameters. This overflow results in insufficient buffer allocation, leading to heap-based buffer overflows when the application attempts to render the text. The vulnerability affects not only Safari web browser but also Mozilla Firefox and various versions of Mac OS X, indicating a fundamental issue within the underlying graphics rendering subsystem. This flaw falls under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions that can lead to buffer overflows and memory corruption.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable arbitrary code execution on affected systems. Remote attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web content or documents containing specially formatted text that triggers the integer overflow during rendering. When the vulnerable application processes such input, the resulting buffer overflow can corrupt adjacent memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is heightened by its presence in widely used applications and operating systems, making it a prime target for attackers seeking to compromise user systems through web-based attacks.
The attack surface for this vulnerability encompasses web browsers, document viewers, and any application that relies on CoreGraphics for text rendering operations. Given that Safari before version 4.0.3 and Firefox before version 3.0.12 were specifically affected, along with Mac OS X versions 10.4.11 and 10.5.8, the exploitation could occur through web pages, email attachments, or other document formats containing malicious text content. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059, which involves the use of command and scripting interpreters, as the exploitation could potentially lead to code execution within the target application's context. The remediation strategy requires immediate patching of affected applications and operating systems, with system administrators implementing security updates to address the integer overflow condition in CoreGraphics. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing web filtering and content validation measures to reduce exposure to potentially malicious content that could trigger this vulnerability during text rendering operations.