CVE-2011-2367 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The WebGL implementation in Mozilla Firefox 4.x through 4.0.1 does not properly restrict read operations, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from GPU memory associated with an arbitrary process, or cause a denial of service (application crash), via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/13/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2367 represents a critical security flaw in the WebGL graphics implementation within Mozilla Firefox versions 4.x through 4.0.1. This issue stems from inadequate memory access controls within the browser's graphics processing unit memory management system, creating a pathway for malicious actors to exploit the system's GPU memory handling capabilities. The flaw specifically affects the WebGL API implementation which is designed to enable hardware-accelerated 3D graphics rendering within web browsers, but fails to properly validate read operations against GPU memory segments.
The technical nature of this vulnerability manifests through improper memory restriction mechanisms that allow unauthorized read access to GPU memory spaces. Attackers can leverage this weakness to extract sensitive information that may be stored in GPU memory, potentially including data from other processes or applications running on the same system. This occurs because the WebGL implementation lacks proper bounds checking and memory isolation controls when accessing graphics processing unit resources. The vulnerability enables what is classified as a cross-process memory read attack, where an attacker can bypass normal operating system memory protection mechanisms to access memory regions they should not have access to, which aligns with CWE-125 vulnerability classification for out-of-bounds read conditions.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to include potential application stability compromise through denial of service attacks. When exploited successfully, the vulnerability can cause Firefox applications to crash or become unresponsive, effectively disrupting user sessions and potentially enabling more sophisticated attack vectors. This type of vulnerability represents a significant concern in web browser security contexts where GPU memory access is involved, as it can be leveraged to gather information that may be used in subsequent attacks or to destabilize browser operations. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that WebGL is designed to provide high-performance graphics rendering capabilities that inherently require direct access to system resources.
The exploitation of CVE-2011-2367 aligns with several tactics described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework, particularly those related to privilege escalation and information gathering through memory access techniques. This vulnerability could be categorized under techniques involving process injection or memory manipulation to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data. Security professionals should note that this issue demonstrates the growing complexity of modern browser security models where graphics processing unit integration creates new attack vectors that traditional web security measures may not adequately address. The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management and access control mechanisms in hardware-accelerated graphics APIs.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate browser updates to versions that contain patches addressing the WebGL memory access restrictions. Organizations should also implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider browser hardening measures that limit WebGL functionality where possible. The fix typically involves implementing proper memory bounds checking and access control mechanisms within the WebGL implementation to prevent unauthorized GPU memory reads. Security teams should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected Firefox versions and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place to prevent exploitation of similar memory access vulnerabilities in other browser components or system applications.