CVE-2013-0746 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox before 18.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.12 and 17.x before 17.0.2, Thunderbird before 17.0.2, Thunderbird ESR 10.x before 10.0.12 and 17.x before 17.0.2, and SeaMonkey before 2.15 do not properly implement quickstubs that use the jsval data type for their return values, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (compartment mismatch and application crash) via crafted JavaScript code that is not properly handled during garbage collection.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0746 represents a critical memory management flaw in Mozilla's JavaScript engine that affects multiple browser and email client products including Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey. This issue stems from improper implementation of quickstubs mechanisms that utilize the jsval data type for return values, creating a dangerous condition where malicious JavaScript code can exploit memory handling inconsistencies during garbage collection processes. The flaw manifests when the JavaScript engine fails to properly manage compartment boundaries during memory cleanup operations, leading to potential arbitrary code execution or system crashes.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the JavaScript engine's handling of quickstubs, which are optimization mechanisms that allow direct function calls between different code modules without proper type checking or memory boundary validation. When jsval return values are processed during garbage collection, the engine does not adequately verify that the memory locations referenced are properly contained within the correct compartments, allowing attackers to manipulate memory pointers and execute unintended code sequences. This represents a classic compartment mismatch vulnerability that falls under CWE-121, which describes buffer overflow conditions where data is written to memory outside the intended buffer boundaries. The flaw specifically impacts the JavaScript engine's garbage collection process, where memory management operations become corrupted due to improper compartment validation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe and multifaceted, as it enables remote attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution on affected systems without requiring user interaction or specific privileges. Attackers can craft malicious JavaScript payloads that exploit the memory handling inconsistencies during garbage collection, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability also allows for denial of service conditions where applications crash due to compartment mismatches, making systems unreliable and potentially exploitable for further attacks. This flaw aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1068 for local privilege escalation through memory corruption attacks. The vulnerability affects multiple Mozilla products including Firefox versions prior to 18.0, Thunderbird versions before 17.0.2, and SeaMonkey versions before 2.15, making it particularly widespread across the Mozilla ecosystem.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate patching of affected software versions, as the most effective solution involves updating to patched versions that properly implement compartment validation during quickstub operations. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Mozilla products to their latest secure versions, particularly focusing on Firefox ESR 10.0.12, Firefox 18.0, Thunderbird 17.0.2, and SeaMonkey 2.15 releases. Additional defensive measures include implementing strict content filtering policies, disabling JavaScript in untrusted environments, and monitoring for suspicious JavaScript execution patterns. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help identify and block malicious JavaScript payloads targeting this vulnerability. Security teams should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to ensure all endpoints running affected software have been properly updated, as this vulnerability can be exploited through web-based attacks without user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments.