CVE-2010-2770 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
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 on Mac OS X allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted font in a data: URL.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/24/2021
This vulnerability affects multiple Mozilla products including Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey on Mac OS X systems. The issue stems from improper handling of crafted font data within data: URLs which can lead to memory corruption and subsequent application crashes. The vulnerability exists in versions prior to Firefox 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. The flaw represents a classic buffer overflow condition that occurs when the applications attempt to process malformed font information embedded in data URLs. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and specifically relates to improper input validation of font rendering components.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves attackers crafting malicious font data within data: URLs that when processed by the affected applications trigger memory corruption. When the applications attempt to render these crafted fonts, the parsing logic fails to properly validate the font structure, leading to memory corruption that can manifest as application crashes or potentially allow for arbitrary code execution. The attack vector specifically targets the font rendering subsystem where data: URLs are processed, making this a client-side vulnerability that requires user interaction to be exploited. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploitation of software vulnerabilities through malicious data processing, and T1059, which covers execution through command and scripting interpreters.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enabling remote code execution in certain circumstances. The memory corruption can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in environments where users may encounter malicious content through web browsing or email interactions. The vulnerability affects Mac OS X systems specifically, indicating that the memory layout and application handling differs between platforms, which could influence the exploitability and potential attack surface. Organizations using these affected versions should prioritize patching to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability could be used in targeted attacks against specific user populations.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patch deployment for all affected versions of the Mozilla applications. System administrators should also implement network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering to prevent access to known malicious data: URLs. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites or opening suspicious email attachments that may contain crafted font data. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in font processing components, as similar issues have been documented in other software applications where font rendering libraries have been exploited. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing measures for applications that handle untrusted content, particularly those with complex rendering capabilities like web browsers and email clients.