CVE-2012-1976 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the nsHTMLSelectElement::SubmitNamesValues 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-2012-1976 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Mozilla's browser and email client software ecosystems, specifically targeting the nsHTMLSelectElement::SubmitNamesValues function. This vulnerability affects multiple Mozilla products including Firefox versions prior to 15.0, Firefox ESR 10.x versions before 10.0.7, Thunderbird versions before 15.0, Thunderbird ESR 10.x versions before 10.0.7, and SeaMonkey versions before 2.12. The flaw manifests as a heap memory corruption issue that can be exploited remotely, presenting significant security implications for affected users. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices where freed memory locations are accessed after being deallocated, creating opportunities for malicious code execution or system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability places it squarely within the CWE-416 category of Use After Free conditions, which is classified as a fundamental memory safety issue in software development. When the nsHTMLSelectElement::SubmitNamesValues function processes HTML select elements during form submission, it fails to properly manage object lifecycles, leading to scenarios where memory that has been freed is subsequently accessed. This creates a predictable pattern of heap corruption that attackers can leverage to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the vulnerable application. The vulnerability's remote exploitability means that attackers can trigger the flaw through web pages or email content without requiring local system access, making it particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-1976 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to encompass full system compromise potential. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability allows remote code execution, enabling attackers to gain complete control over affected systems. The heap memory corruption can be manipulated to overwrite critical program structures, jump to attacker-controlled code locations, or redirect execution flow through return-oriented programming techniques. The widespread adoption of affected Mozilla products means that this vulnerability could impact millions of users across different operating systems and deployment scenarios, from individual desktop computers to enterprise environments. Additionally, the vulnerability's presence in both browser and email client applications creates multiple attack vectors, increasing the likelihood of successful exploitation.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-1976 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Mozilla. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Mozilla products to their latest secure versions, including Firefox 15.0, Thunderbird 15.0, and SeaMonkey 2.12, along with their respective ESR versions. System administrators should implement automated patch management processes to ensure timely deployment of security updates across all endpoints. Additional defensive measures include implementing web content filtering solutions, enabling sandboxing features where available, and configuring browser security settings to limit potential attack surface. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect anomalous behavior patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's classification as a use-after-free issue also emphasizes the importance of memory safety practices in software development, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059 for executing malicious code through compromised applications. Organizations should also consider implementing intrusion detection systems that can identify patterns consistent with heap corruption exploitation attempts.