CVE-2012-1954 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the nsDocument::AdoptNode function in Mozilla Firefox 4.x through 13.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.6, Thunderbird 5.0 through 13.0, Thunderbird ESR 10.x before 10.0.6, and SeaMonkey before 2.11 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption) or possibly execute arbitrary code via vectors involving multiple adoptions and empty documents.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/21/2024
The CVE-2012-1954 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within the nsDocument::AdoptNode function of Mozilla Firefox and related applications. This vulnerability exists in versions ranging from Firefox 4.x through 13.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.6, Thunderbird 5.0 through 13.0, Thunderbird ESR 10.x before 10.0.6, and SeaMonkey before 2.11. The flaw stems from improper memory management during document adoption operations, creating a scenario where freed memory locations can be accessed after the original allocation has been released. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which is classified as a severe memory safety issue that can lead to unpredictable behavior including crashes or code execution.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through specific vectors involving multiple document adoptions and empty document manipulation. When the nsDocument::AdoptNode function processes multiple adoption operations on documents that may be empty or in transitional states, the memory management system fails to properly track the lifecycle of allocated objects. This results in a situation where a pointer references memory that has already been freed and potentially reallocated for other purposes. The vulnerability becomes particularly dangerous when combined with empty document states, as these conditions can trigger the improper memory deallocation sequence that leads to heap corruption. The flaw operates at the core level of document object management within the Gecko rendering engine, making it particularly impactful for web browsers that rely heavily on dynamic document manipulation.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1954 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable remote code execution, making it a severe security concern for affected applications. Attackers can craft malicious web content that triggers the vulnerable code path, causing the browser to corrupt heap memory and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in the context of the ATT&CK framework's privilege escalation techniques, as it can be leveraged to gain elevated system access. The heap corruption can manifest in various ways including application crashes, rendering the browser unusable, or more critically, providing attackers with a foothold for further exploitation through memory corruption techniques. The vulnerability's presence in both Firefox and Thunderbird applications creates widespread exposure across email and web browsing platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1954 should prioritize immediate patching of all affected versions to prevent exploitation. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies to ensure all systems are running patched versions of Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey. Additionally, network-level defenses including web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide additional layers of protection by blocking suspicious web content that may trigger the vulnerability. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts and implement proper incident response procedures to handle potential breaches. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-416 highlights the importance of memory safety practices in software development, emphasizing the need for proper object lifecycle management and memory tracking. Regular security assessments and code reviews focusing on memory management practices can help identify and prevent similar vulnerabilities in other applications. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing technologies and privilege separation mechanisms to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts.