CVE-2011-0083 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the nsSVGPathSegList::ReplaceItem function in the implementation of SVG element lists in Mozilla Firefox before 3.6.18, Thunderbird before 3.1.11, and SeaMonkey through 2.0.14 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via vectors involving a user-supplied callback.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2021
The CVE-2011-0083 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition that existed in the SVG element list implementation within Mozilla Firefox and related products. This flaw specifically affected the nsSVGPathSegList::ReplaceItem function which handled the manipulation of SVG path segment lists. The vulnerability emerged from improper memory management practices where freed memory locations were still being accessed or referenced, creating a potential exploitation vector for remote attackers. The issue impacted a wide range of Mozilla products including Firefox versions prior to 3.6.18, Thunderbird versions before 3.1.11, and SeaMonkey versions through 2.0.14, demonstrating the widespread nature of the memory safety problem across the Mozilla ecosystem.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurred through crafted SVG content that would trigger the problematic nsSVGPathSegList::ReplaceItem function. When a user encountered maliciously constructed SVG elements containing specific callback mechanisms, the application would attempt to access memory that had already been freed during previous operations. This use-after-free condition created a scenario where the application's memory state became corrupted, leading to unpredictable behavior. The vulnerability's design allowed attackers to potentially manipulate the freed memory contents through carefully crafted input, which could result in arbitrary code execution or application crashes. The flaw was particularly dangerous because it could be triggered through web content without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, making it a significant remote code execution risk.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability posed severe risks to end users and organizations relying on affected Mozilla products. The potential for remote code execution meant that attackers could gain complete control over affected systems, allowing them to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access. The denial of service aspect also created significant operational disruption, as legitimate users could be denied access to web services or applications that relied on these vulnerable browsers. The vulnerability's exploitation required minimal user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or malicious website attacks. Organizations using affected versions faced immediate security risks and were vulnerable to sophisticated attacks that could bypass traditional security controls, as the flaw existed at the core rendering engine level.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2011-0083 centered primarily on updating to patched versions of the affected software products. Mozilla released security updates for Firefox 3.6.18, Thunderbird 3.1.11, and SeaMonkey 2.0.14 that addressed the memory management issues in the SVG implementation. System administrators should have implemented immediate patch deployment across all affected systems and monitored for any exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures included implementing web content filtering solutions to block potentially malicious SVG content, enabling sandboxing features where available, and conducting security awareness training to help users identify suspicious web content. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of memory safety practices in web browsers and led to enhanced security testing procedures for similar rendering engine components. From a compliance standpoint, organizations needed to ensure their security posture addressed this vulnerability through proper patch management processes and vulnerability assessment procedures. The incident underscored the need for continuous security monitoring and rapid response capabilities to address similar memory corruption vulnerabilities that could affect web browser security.