CVE-2012-1973 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the nsObjectLoadingContent::LoadObject function in Mozilla Firefox before 15.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.7, Thunderbird before 15.0, Thunderbird ESR 10.x before 10.0.7, and SeaMonkey before 2.12 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2024
The CVE-2012-1973 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition within the nsObjectLoadingContent::LoadObject function of Mozilla Firefox and related products. This flaw exists in versions prior to Firefox 15.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.7, Thunderbird before 15.0, Thunderbird ESR 10.x before 10.0.7, and SeaMonkey before 2.12, making it a widespread issue affecting multiple components of the Mozilla ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management where freed memory locations are accessed after being deallocated, creating opportunities for malicious exploitation.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the nsObjectLoadingContent::LoadObject function which handles the loading of various object types within the browser's content rendering system. When processing certain web content, the function may free memory resources while still maintaining references to them, leading to a situation where subsequent operations attempt to access already freed memory blocks. This memory corruption manifests as heap corruption, where the attacker can manipulate the freed memory to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the browser process. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability could be triggered through various attack scenarios including crafted web pages, embedded objects, or malicious content delivered via web protocols.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to end users as it allows remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution without requiring local system access. The heap memory corruption resulting from the use-after-free condition can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially leading to complete system compromise. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to install malware, steal sensitive information, or perform other malicious activities while maintaining persistent access to the compromised system. The impact extends beyond individual browser sessions as successful exploitation can result in full system compromise, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where browser security is paramount. Organizations running affected versions face significant risk of data breaches and system infiltration.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1973 primarily focus on immediate version updates to patched releases of Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey. System administrators should prioritize deployment of security patches from Mozilla, ensuring all affected products are updated to versions that contain the memory management fixes. Additional protective measures include implementing browser security restrictions such as sandboxing, disabling unnecessary plugins, and employing content filtering solutions to reduce exposure to malicious content. Network-level defenses such as intrusion detection systems and web application firewalls can help detect and block exploitation attempts, while user education regarding safe browsing practices remains essential. Organizations should also consider implementing automated patch management systems to ensure timely deployment of security updates and maintain comprehensive monitoring for signs of exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions, and represents a common target for exploit development in the ATT&CK framework under the privilege escalation and code execution domains.