CVE-2011-0079 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in the browser engine in Mozilla Firefox 4.x before 4.0.1 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via vectors related to gfx/layers/d3d10/ReadbackManagerD3D10.cpp and unknown other vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0079 represents a critical security flaw within Mozilla Firefox version 4.x prior to 4.0.1, specifically targeting the browser engine's underlying architecture. This issue manifests through multiple unspecified vectors that collectively create a significant attack surface for malicious actors seeking to compromise system integrity. The vulnerability exists within the graphics layer implementation, particularly in the D3D10 readback manager component, which handles DirectX 10 graphics operations in Windows environments. The affected code path in gfx/layers/d3d10/ReadbackManagerD3D10.cpp demonstrates a failure in proper memory management and input validation that can be exploited through carefully crafted web content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through memory corruption techniques that leverage flaws in how Firefox processes graphics data when rendering web content. Attackers can construct malicious web pages or content that, when processed by the affected browser engine, triggers buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions within the D3D10 graphics subsystem. These memory corruption issues can manifest as application crashes or more severe conditions that may allow for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it operates at the graphics rendering layer, where the browser engine must handle untrusted input from web pages, making it a prime target for sophisticated exploitation techniques.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risk for organizations relying on Firefox 4.x browsers, as it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without requiring any special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting malicious websites. The potential for remote code execution means that attackers could gain complete control over affected systems, potentially leading to data breaches, privilege escalation, and lateral movement within network environments. The denial of service aspect further compounds the threat, as it can be used to disrupt legitimate business operations through persistent application crashes or system instability. Organizations with limited security monitoring capabilities may not immediately detect exploitation attempts, allowing attackers to establish persistent footholds.
The vulnerability aligns with several CWE categories including CWE-119 for memory corruption and CWE-787 for out-of-bounds write conditions, while also mapping to ATT&CK techniques such as T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation. Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected Firefox installations to version 4.0.1 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the memory corruption issues. Network-based mitigations such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional protection layers, while browser hardening techniques including disabling unnecessary graphics features and implementing strict security policies can reduce the attack surface. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify any remaining instances of the vulnerable software within the organization's infrastructure.