CVE-2012-0450 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox 4.x through 9.0 and SeaMonkey before 2.7 on Linux and Mac OS X set weak permissions for Firefox Recovery Key.html, which might allow local users to read a Firefox Sync key via standard filesystem operations.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/31/2018
This vulnerability affects mozilla firefox versions 4.0 through 9.0 and seamonkey versions before 2.7 on linux and mac os x operating systems. the issue stems from improper file permission settings for the firefox recovery key file named firefox recovery key.html. when firefox sync functionality is enabled, the application generates this recovery key file to allow users to restore their sync data if they lose access to their account. the weakness lies in the file system permissions that are assigned to this critical recovery file, which are set too restrictively for a sensitive security credential.
the technical flaw represents a privilege escalation and information disclosure vulnerability that operates under the common weakness enumeration category cwe-276. specifically this manifests as improper file permissions that create an attack surface for local users to access sensitive data through standard filesystem operations. the recovery key file contains cryptographic information necessary to access encrypted sync data, making it a valuable target for attackers who might otherwise require authentication credentials to access user data. when the file is created with weak permissions, it becomes accessible to any user account on the system, potentially allowing unauthorized individuals to read the key and subsequently access encrypted sync data.
the operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for users who rely on firefox sync functionality for data synchronization across multiple devices. local attackers who gain access to a system where firefox sync is configured can exploit this weakness to extract the recovery key and potentially access all encrypted sync data including bookmarks, passwords, history, and other sensitive information. this attack vector operates at the local privilege level and does not require network access or authentication credentials, making it particularly dangerous in multi-user environments or shared computing systems. the attack aligns with attack technique t1003.001 from the attack framework which covers credential access through file system access.
the vulnerability demonstrates poor security implementation practices in file system permission management within firefox's sync feature. proper implementation should have enforced restrictive file permissions that limit access to the file owner only, preventing unauthorized access to sensitive cryptographic material. system administrators and security professionals should consider this issue when evaluating firefox deployments in enterprise environments where multiple users share systems or when managing systems with security compliance requirements. the weakness affects both linux and mac os x platforms, indicating that the issue is not platform-specific but rather a software implementation flaw in the firefox synchronization system. organizations should ensure that all affected firefox installations are updated to versions that properly implement file permissions for sync recovery keys, and should monitor for similar permission-related vulnerabilities in other browser components or security features.