CVE-2012-3990 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the IME State Manager implementation in Mozilla Firefox before 16.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.8, Thunderbird before 16.0, Thunderbird ESR 10.x before 10.0.8, and SeaMonkey before 2.13 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via unspecified vectors, related to the nsIContent::GetNameSpaceID function.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2024
The CVE-2012-3990 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Mozilla Firefox's IME State Manager implementation, affecting multiple products including Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey across several versions. This vulnerability resides in the nsIContent::GetNameSpaceID function which handles namespace identification for content elements within the browser's rendering engine. The issue arises from improper memory management where freed memory locations are accessed after being deallocated, creating opportunities for malicious exploitation. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, making it a prime target for cybercriminals seeking to compromise user devices through web-based attacks.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed. This type of flaw typically occurs when the application fails to properly track memory allocation and deallocation cycles, particularly in complex systems like browser engines that handle numerous dynamic memory operations. The IME State Manager component is responsible for managing input method editor states, which are essential for handling international text input, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could be triggered through normal web browsing activities involving international character sets or complex web forms. The unspecified vectors suggest that the attack could be initiated through various means including crafted web pages, malicious attachments, or compromised websites.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-3990 extends beyond simple code execution, potentially allowing attackers to gain full system control, escalate privileges, or establish persistent backdoors on compromised systems. This vulnerability operates at the browser level, meaning successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise without requiring additional user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The affected products span multiple versions including Firefox 16.0 and earlier, Thunderbird 16.0 and earlier, and SeaMonkey 2.13 and earlier, indicating a widespread exposure across the Mozilla ecosystem. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through techniques such as heap spraying, return-oriented programming, or other advanced exploitation methods that take advantage of the freed memory locations to inject and execute malicious payloads.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should focus on immediate patching of affected software versions, as the primary defense against use-after-free exploits. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies and consider deploying web application firewalls or content filtering solutions as additional protective measures. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter indicates that exploitation could enable attackers to execute system commands, making network segmentation and access controls crucial defensive measures. Security teams should also monitor for indicators of compromise related to suspicious browser behavior, unexpected memory usage patterns, or unusual network connections that might indicate exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be implemented to identify any remaining unpatched systems within the organization's infrastructure, particularly those running older versions of Mozilla products that may not receive further security updates.