CVE-2010-0179 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox before 3.0.19 and 3.5.x before 3.5.8, and SeaMonkey before 2.0.3, when the XMLHttpRequestSpy module in the Firebug add-on is used, does not properly handle interaction between the XMLHttpRequestSpy object and chrome privileged objects, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript via a crafted HTTP response.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2026
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-0179 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw that emerged within the Firefox browser ecosystem and its associated Firebug add-on. This security weakness specifically affects Firefox versions prior to 3.0.19 and 3.5.x versions prior to 3.5.8, as well as SeaMonkey versions before 2.0.3. The vulnerability stems from improper handling of interactions between the XMLHttpRequestSpy module within Firebug and chrome privileged objects, creating a dangerous condition that enables remote code execution through malicious HTTP responses.
The technical flaw manifests when the XMLHttpRequestSpy module in Firebug fails to properly sanitize or validate interactions with chrome privileged objects, which are components with elevated privileges within the browser's security model. This improper handling creates a pathway for attackers to exploit the boundary between privileged and unprivileged code execution contexts. When a crafted HTTP response is processed, the vulnerability allows malicious JavaScript code to be executed with the privileges of the chrome context, effectively bypassing normal security restrictions that typically protect against such attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and far-reaching, as it enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code on victim machines without requiring any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-94 category of "Improper Control of Generation of Code" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript." The vulnerability essentially allows attackers to perform actions such as stealing session cookies, redirecting users to malicious sites, or executing full browser compromise attacks that could lead to complete system compromise.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic privilege escalation issue where unprivileged web content can interact with privileged chrome objects through the Firebug add-on's XMLHttpRequestSpy functionality. This flaw represents a breakdown in Firefox's security model and highlights the importance of proper sandboxing between browser extensions and privileged browser components. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the legitimate Firebug debugging functionality to create an attack vector, making it more difficult for users to identify the malicious activity.
Organizations and users should immediately update to patched versions of Firefox and SeaMonkey to mitigate this vulnerability. The recommended mitigations include implementing browser security policies that restrict the use of potentially vulnerable add-ons, deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious HTTP traffic patterns, and ensuring that security updates are applied promptly. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of maintaining current browser versions with all security patches applied. The vulnerability underscores the critical need for robust security practices in browser extension development and the importance of proper privilege management within browser security models.