CVE-2012-1938 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in the browser engine in Mozilla Firefox before 13.0, Thunderbird before 13.0, and SeaMonkey before 2.10 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via vectors related to (1) methodjit/ImmutableSync.cpp, (2) the JSObject::makeDenseArraySlow function in js/src/jsarray.cpp, and unknown other components.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/25/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-1938 represents a critical security flaw affecting the browser engine of Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 13.0, Thunderbird versions before 13.0, and SeaMonkey versions before 2.10. This vulnerability encompasses multiple unspecified issues within the JavaScript engine that can be exploited by remote attackers to achieve either denial of service conditions or potentially arbitrary code execution. The affected components include methodjit/ImmutableSync.cpp and the JSObject::makeDenseArraySlow function located in js/src/jsarray.cpp, with additional unknown components contributing to the overall risk profile. These vulnerabilities fall under the category of memory corruption issues that can lead to unpredictable application behavior and system instability.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through specific code paths within the JavaScript engine's execution environment. The methodjit/ImmutableSync.cpp component likely handles just-in-time compilation optimizations that can be manipulated to corrupt memory structures during execution. The JSObject::makeDenseArraySlow function in js/src/jsarray.cpp represents a critical path where array operations can trigger memory corruption when processing certain array objects. These flaws demonstrate the inherent complexity of modern JavaScript engines where optimization techniques can introduce security risks. The vulnerability can be triggered through crafted web content or malicious email attachments that leverage the JavaScript engine's memory management functions. The attack vectors typically involve manipulating array objects and memory allocation patterns to cause buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that result in application crashes or potential code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1938 extends beyond simple application instability to potentially enable remote code execution in targeted scenarios. When exploited successfully, these vulnerabilities can cause browsers to crash unexpectedly, leading to denial of service conditions that disrupt user productivity and system availability. More critically, the memory corruption aspects suggest that attackers could potentially leverage these flaws to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This risk is particularly concerning for web browsers where users frequently interact with untrusted content from various sources. The vulnerability affects a wide range of Mozilla-based applications, making it a significant concern for organizations relying on these platforms. The attack surface is broad since these applications are commonly used for web browsing and email operations, providing multiple potential entry points for exploitation.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of all affected versions to mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2012-1938. The recommended mitigation strategy involves upgrading to Firefox 13.0, Thunderbird 13.0, or SeaMonkey 2.10 respectively, which contain fixes for the identified memory corruption issues. Security administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring for exploitation attempts targeting these vulnerabilities and consider network-level controls to block malicious content. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-122, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript-based attacks. Additional protective measures include implementing sandboxing mechanisms, restricting JavaScript execution in sensitive environments, and maintaining updated threat intelligence feeds to detect exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining exposure risks in the organization's environment.