CVE-2009-3389 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in libtheora in Xiph.Org Theora before 1.1, as used in Mozilla Firefox 3.5 before 3.5.6 and SeaMonkey before 2.0.1, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a video with large dimensions.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-3389 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the libtheora library component of the Xiph.Org Theora video codec implementation. This issue affects widely used web browsers including Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 3.5.6 and SeaMonkey versions prior to 2.0.1, creating a significant security risk for users of these applications. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of video dimension parameters during the decoding process, where the library fails to properly validate or constrain input values that specify video width and height dimensions.
The technical flaw manifests as an integer overflow condition that occurs when processing video files containing unusually large dimension values. When the libtheora library attempts to allocate memory or perform calculations based on these oversized dimensions, the integer arithmetic exceeds the maximum representable value for the data type being used. This overflow condition can result in unexpected behavior within the application's memory management system, potentially leading to memory corruption that manifests as application crashes or more severe consequences. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of software implementation flaws and memory safety issues, making it particularly dangerous in a browser context where multimedia content can be delivered directly from untrusted sources.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a remote code execution risk that can be exploited through malicious video content delivered via web pages or other digital media channels. Attackers can craft specially formatted video files with dimensions that trigger the integer overflow condition, potentially causing the affected browser to crash or, in more sophisticated exploitation scenarios, execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the running browser process. The impact extends beyond simple denial of service to include potential system compromise, as demonstrated by the vulnerability's classification and the fact that it affected major browser implementations. This vulnerability directly relates to CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which specifically addresses issues where integer arithmetic produces results that exceed the maximum value that can be represented.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to initial access through malicious web content and privilege escalation through code execution. The attack surface includes any web application or content delivery system that processes Theora video streams without proper input validation, making it a significant concern for web developers and security administrators. The vulnerability demonstrates how multimedia libraries can serve as attack vectors in modern web environments where users expect to be able to view rich media content without security concerns. Organizations implementing security controls should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader browser security posture assessment, particularly when evaluating the risk of outdated browser versions in their environments.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2009-3389 require immediate patching of affected browser versions, with Mozilla Firefox 3.5.6 and SeaMonkey 2.0.1 representing the first versions that properly address the integer overflow condition. Additionally, system administrators should implement content filtering measures to prevent the delivery of potentially malicious video content, particularly in environments where users may not be able to immediately update their browser software. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual video dimension parameters in network traffic or file processing activities, as these may indicate attempted exploitation of the vulnerability. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of proper input validation and integer overflow protection in multimedia processing libraries, emphasizing the need for regular security updates and thorough code review processes to prevent similar issues in future implementations.