CVE-2010-2755 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
layout/generic/nsObjectFrame.cpp in Mozilla Firefox 3.6.7 does not properly free memory in the parameter array of a plugin instance, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted HTML document, related to the DATA and SRC attributes of an OBJECT element. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incorrect fix for CVE-2010-1214.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-2755 represents a critical memory management flaw within Mozilla Firefox version 3.6.7's handling of plugin instances through the layout/generic/nsObjectFrame.cpp component. This issue specifically targets the improper deallocation of memory within the parameter array associated with plugin instances, creating a condition where remote attackers can manipulate the browser's memory management routines to trigger either denial of service conditions or potential code execution. The vulnerability manifests when processing HTML documents containing crafted OBJECT elements with specific DATA and SRC attributes that exploit the flawed memory cleanup mechanism.
The technical root cause stems from an incorrect fix implemented for CVE-2010-1214, which demonstrates how remediation efforts can sometimes introduce new vulnerabilities or fail to address underlying issues completely. When Firefox processes an OBJECT element with certain attribute configurations, the browser's plugin framework attempts to manage memory for parameter arrays associated with plugin instances. However, the flawed implementation fails to properly release allocated memory resources, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by malicious actors. This memory corruption occurs during the lifecycle management of plugin instances, particularly when the browser encounters malformed or specially crafted HTML content that triggers the vulnerable code path.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable remote code execution, making it particularly dangerous for end users and organizations. Attackers can craft HTML documents that, when loaded in Firefox, cause the browser to allocate memory for plugin parameters and subsequently fail to properly free that memory, leading to heap corruption. This heap corruption can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process. The vulnerability affects users who visit malicious websites or open compromised email attachments containing the crafted HTML content, making it a significant risk for general web browsing activities.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as a memory safety issue that aligns with CWE-415 and CWE-416 categories, representing improper cleanup of dynamically allocated memory resources. The attack pattern follows typical exploit methodologies documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under techniques related to memory corruption and privilege escalation. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Firefox installations, as the vulnerability exists in a widely used browser component that provides extensive attack surface through web content processing. System administrators should also consider implementing network-based protections such as content filtering and web application firewalls to mitigate potential exploitation attempts while waiting for official patches to be deployed across environments. The vulnerability underscores the importance of thorough regression testing when implementing security fixes to prevent the introduction of new flaws that can be exploited by adversaries.