CVE-2013-0750 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the JavaScript implementation in 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 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted string concatenation, leading to improper memory allocation and a heap-based buffer overflow.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0750 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the JavaScript engine of multiple Mozilla applications including Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey. This issue stems from improper handling of integer arithmetic during string concatenation operations, creating conditions where maliciously crafted input can cause integer values to exceed their maximum representable limits. The flaw manifests in the JavaScript implementation's memory management system where the overflow results in incorrect calculations of memory allocation sizes, ultimately leading to heap-based buffer overflow conditions that can be exploited by remote attackers.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when JavaScript code processes string concatenation operations with specifically crafted inputs that trigger integer overflow conditions. When the JavaScript engine attempts to calculate the required memory allocation for concatenated strings, an integer overflow causes the calculated size to wrap around to a much smaller value than intended. This improper memory allocation results in a heap-based buffer overflow where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it allows for arbitrary code execution, enabling attackers to bypass security mechanisms and potentially gain full control over affected systems. The flaw falls under CWE-190, which specifically addresses integer overflow conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript-based execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple versions of Mozilla's flagship applications, affecting Firefox versions prior to 18.0, Thunderbird versions before 17.0.2, and SeaMonkey versions before 2.15. The vulnerability affects both regular release versions and Extended Support Release (ESR) versions, making it particularly widespread in enterprise environments where ESR versions are commonly deployed. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through web-based attacks, requiring no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website or opening a specially crafted email message. The memory corruption resulting from heap overflow allows for sophisticated exploitation techniques including return-oriented programming and stack pivot attacks. Organizations using these affected versions face significant risk of compromise, as the vulnerability can be exploited remotely without requiring any local privileges or user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0750 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to patched releases of affected Mozilla applications. Organizations should prioritize updating to Firefox 18.0, Thunderbird 17.0.2, and SeaMonkey 2.15, along with their respective ESR versions that contain the necessary patches. Additionally, implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can provide temporary defense against exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider deploying runtime protections and monitoring for anomalous JavaScript execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper integer overflow handling in memory management systems and highlights the critical need for comprehensive input validation and bounds checking in scripting engines. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify and remediate similar issues in other components of the software stack.