CVE-2011-0075 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in the browser engine in Mozilla Firefox 3.5.x before 3.5.19 and 3.6.x before 3.6.17, Thunderbird before 3.1.10, and SeaMonkey before 2.0.14 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2011-0072, CVE-2011-0074, CVE-2011-0077, and CVE-2011-0078.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2021
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the browser engine of Mozilla Firefox and related applications that could potentially lead to remote code execution or denial of service conditions. The affected versions include Firefox 3.5.x before 3.5.19 and 3.6.x before 3.6.17, Thunderbird before 3.1.10, and SeaMonkey before 2.0.14. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability vectors makes this particularly concerning as it could encompass multiple attack surfaces within the browser engine's memory management and processing functions. From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability falls under the category of memory corruption issues that are commonly classified as CWE-125, which represents "Out-of-bounds Read" and other related memory safety issues that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system crashes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability likely involves improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation within the browser engine's rendering or parsing components. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web content or email messages that trigger specific memory corruption patterns when processed by the affected applications. The vulnerability's potential for remote code execution means that an attacker could potentially deliver malicious payloads through compromised websites or email attachments without requiring user interaction beyond normal browsing or email reading activities. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers "Exploitation for Client Execution" and represents a common attack pattern where adversaries leverage software vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise when exploited successfully. The memory corruption aspect suggests that attackers could manipulate heap memory structures or stack variables to overwrite critical program data or execution pointers. This type of flaw is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through legitimate browsing activities, making it difficult for users to protect themselves through simple behavioral changes. Organizations using these affected versions of Mozilla applications face significant risk exposure, as the vulnerability could be exploited in zero-day attacks against unsuspecting users. The fact that this vulnerability is separate from other CVEs indicates that it represents a distinct code path or memory handling issue within the browser engine's core architecture.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate patch deployment as provided by Mozilla through their security advisories. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected applications to their patched versions, which include Firefox 3.5.19, 3.6.17, Thunderbird 3.1.10, and SeaMonkey 2.0.14. Additionally, network security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional layers of protection by blocking suspicious content before it reaches user browsers. Organizations should also consider implementing browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary plugins, restricting JavaScript execution, and employing sandboxing technologies to limit potential damage from successful exploits. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and code reviews to identify similar patterns that might exist in other components of the application stack.