CVE-2012-0454 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox 4.x through 10.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.3, Thunderbird 5.0 through 10.0, Thunderbird ESR 10.x before 10.0.3, and SeaMonkey before 2.8 on 32-bit Windows 7 platforms allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via vectors involving use of the file-open dialog in a child window, related to the IUnknown_QueryService function in the Windows shlwapi.dll library.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/26/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition that affects multiple Mozilla products including Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey across specific version ranges on 32-bit Windows 7 systems. The flaw manifests through the interaction between the application's file-open dialog functionality and the Windows shlwapi.dll library, specifically when the IUnknown_QueryService function is invoked in a child window context. The vulnerability occurs when memory allocated to objects becomes accessible after the object has been freed, creating a dangerous state where subsequent operations can corrupt memory or allow code execution.
The technical exploitation vector involves leveraging the file-open dialog mechanism to trigger a scenario where the IUnknown_QueryService function in shlwapi.dll operates on memory that has already been deallocated. This particular combination on 32-bit Windows 7 platforms creates a predictable memory layout that attackers can manipulate to achieve remote code execution or denial of service. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the intersection of application-level code and system-level library functions, making it difficult to detect and prevent through standard security measures.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables remote attackers to either crash applications through denial of service attacks or potentially execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The use-after-free condition can be exploited to overwrite critical memory structures, leading to unpredictable behavior including application crashes, system instability, or complete system compromise. The specific targeting of 32-bit Windows 7 platforms limits the attack surface but does not reduce the severity, as these systems remain prevalent in enterprise environments where such vulnerabilities can have significant business impact.
Security professionals should recognize this vulnerability as mapping to CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions in software development practices. The attack pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where successful exploitation could enable attackers to establish persistent access through code execution. Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of vendor patches, implementation of application whitelisting policies, and network-based controls to limit access to vulnerable systems. Organizations should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms such as DEP and ASLR to reduce exploit reliability, while monitoring for indicators of compromise related to this specific vulnerability pattern.
The vulnerability highlights the importance of proper memory management in complex software ecosystems and demonstrates how seemingly innocuous interactions between application components and system libraries can create dangerous security weaknesses. Effective remediation requires not only patching the immediate vulnerability but also improving code review processes to identify similar patterns in other application components that might be susceptible to similar use-after-free conditions.