CVE-2012-1960 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The qcms_transform_data_rgb_out_lut_sse2 function in the QCMS implementation in Mozilla Firefox 4.x through 13.0, Thunderbird 5.0 through 13.0, and SeaMonkey before 2.11 might allow remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process memory via a crafted color profile that triggers an out-of-bounds read operation.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/26/2021
The qcms_transform_data_rgb_out_lut_sse2 function in Mozilla Firefox versions 4.x through 13.0, Thunderbird versions 5.0 through 13.0, and SeaMonkey versions before 2.11 contains a critical buffer overflow vulnerability that stems from improper bounds checking during color profile processing. This flaw exists within the QCMS (Quick Color Management System) implementation which handles color space transformations for digital images and visual content rendering. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the system processes crafted color profiles that contain malformed lookup table data, leading to an out-of-bounds read operation that can expose sensitive memory contents to remote attackers.
This security flaw represents a classic buffer over-read condition that falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities where an application accesses memory beyond the boundaries of a buffer. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it occurs during the color management processing phase, which is frequently utilized when rendering web content, displaying images, or handling multimedia files. The out-of-bounds read can potentially reveal stack contents, heap data, or other sensitive process memory that may contain authentication tokens, encryption keys, or other confidential information. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious color profiles that, when processed by the vulnerable software, trigger the buffer overflow condition and subsequently leak memory contents.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with potential access to process memory that could contain sensitive data or system state information. In the context of web browsers, this vulnerability could be exploited through malicious websites or email attachments containing crafted color profiles that are automatically processed when users view images or render web pages. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because color profile processing occurs frequently during normal browsing operations, making exploitation relatively straightforward. According to ATT&CK framework tactic T1059, this vulnerability could enable adversaries to gather system information and potentially escalate privileges by accessing memory contents that may contain sensitive credentials or cryptographic keys.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected software versions, as the flaw exists in core color management libraries that are integral to the browser's rendering capabilities. Organizations should prioritize updating Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey installations to versions that contain the patched QCMS implementation, which typically includes proper bounds checking and input validation for lookup table data. Additionally, implementing content security policies that restrict the processing of untrusted color profiles, enabling sandboxing mechanisms, and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns can help reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in multimedia processing libraries, as similar issues could exist in other color management systems or image processing components within the broader software ecosystem.