CVE-2010-2765 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the FRAMESET element implementation in Mozilla Firefox before 3.5.12 and 3.6.x before 3.6.9, Thunderbird before 3.0.7 and 3.1.x before 3.1.3, and SeaMonkey before 2.0.7 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a large number of values in the cols (aka columns) attribute, leading to a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2021
The vulnerability described in CVE-2010-2765 represents a critical integer overflow flaw affecting multiple Mozilla-based applications including Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey. This issue stems from improper validation of input parameters within the FRAMESET element implementation, specifically when processing the cols attribute which defines column dimensions in HTML framesets. The flaw manifests when an attacker crafts malicious HTML content containing an excessive number of values in the cols attribute, triggering an integer overflow condition that subsequently leads to heap-based buffer overflow conditions.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through careful manipulation of HTML frame structures where the cols attribute accepts a comma-separated list of column widths. When the number of specified values exceeds the maximum integer limit that can be safely handled by the application's parsing logic, the integer overflow causes the application to allocate insufficient memory for the buffer, creating a condition where subsequent memory operations can overwrite adjacent memory regions. This memory corruption directly enables remote code execution capabilities as attackers can strategically place malicious code within the overflowed buffer space, allowing them to control program execution flow and potentially gain full system access.
The operational impact of this vulnerability spans across multiple software versions and platforms, affecting Firefox users in versions prior to 3.5.12 and 3.6.x versions before 3.6.9, Thunderbird users in versions before 3.0.7 and 3.1.x versions before 3.1.3, and SeaMonkey users before 2.0.7. The vulnerability's remote exploitation capability makes it particularly dangerous as attackers can deliver malicious content through web pages, email attachments, or other network-based vectors without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website. This makes the flaw highly attractive to threat actors seeking to leverage it for widespread attacks across affected user bases.
Security professionals should note that this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.005 for remote code execution through browser exploitation. The flaw represents a classic heap-based buffer overflow scenario where improper input validation allows attackers to manipulate memory layout and execute arbitrary code. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected versions and implement network-level controls such as web application firewalls to detect and block malicious HTML content containing excessive frame attributes. Additionally, browser hardening measures including sandboxing and privilege separation should be enabled to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.