CVE-2011-1179 in spice-xpi
Summary
by MITRE
The SPICE Firefox plug-in (spice-xpi) 2.4, 2.3, 2.2, and possibly other versions allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via vectors related to (1) plugin/nsScriptablePeer.cpp and (2) plugin/plugin.cpp, which trigger multiple uses of an uninitialized pointer.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/02/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-1179 affects the SPICE Firefox plug-in known as spice-xpi version 2.4, 2.3, 2.2, and potentially other releases. This security flaw represents a critical issue within the browser plugin ecosystem that could compromise system integrity and user safety. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices within the plugin's core components, specifically in the plugin/nsScriptablePeer.cpp and plugin/plugin.cpp files where multiple instances of uninitialized pointer usage occur. These memory management errors create exploitable conditions that remote attackers can leverage to manipulate the plugin's execution flow and potentially gain unauthorized system access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves multiple uninitialized pointer dereferences that occur during the plugin's operation within the Firefox browser environment. When the SPICE plugin processes certain inputs or executes specific functions, it attempts to use pointers that have not been properly initialized with valid memory addresses. This condition creates a scenario where the plugin may attempt to access invalid memory locations, leading to unpredictable behavior including application crashes or system instability. The uninitialized pointer usage patterns in both nsScriptablePeer.cpp and plugin.cpp files demonstrate poor coding practices that violate fundamental software security principles and memory safety standards.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to end users and system administrators. Remote attackers can exploit this flaw to trigger denial of service conditions that cause the Firefox browser to crash or become unresponsive, effectively disrupting user productivity and access to web-based services. More critically, the vulnerability may allow for arbitrary code execution, potentially enabling attackers to install malicious software, escalate privileges, or gain persistent access to affected systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that the SPICE plugin was designed for remote desktop functionality, making it a prime target for exploitation in environments where remote access capabilities are utilized. This vulnerability affects not only individual users but also enterprise environments where the plugin might be deployed across multiple systems, amplifying the potential impact of successful exploitation.
The flaw aligns with CWE-457, which describes the use of uninitialized variables, and represents a classic example of memory safety vulnerabilities that have been extensively documented in security literature. From the ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and remote code execution, as attackers can leverage the uninitialized pointer conditions to execute malicious payloads within the browser context. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected SPICE plugin versions and implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. Additionally, browser security configurations should be reviewed to ensure proper sandboxing and privilege restrictions are in place to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of patched versions to verify that the memory management issues have been properly resolved and that the plugin functions correctly without introducing new security risks.