CVE-2013-0765 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox before 19.0, Thunderbird before 17.0.3, and SeaMonkey before 2.16 do not prevent multiple wrapping of WebIDL objects, which allows remote attackers to bypass intended access restrictions via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/05/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0765 represents a critical security flaw in Mozilla's browser and email client software ecosystems, specifically affecting Firefox versions prior to 19.0, Thunderbird versions prior to 17.0.3, and SeaMonkey versions prior to 2.16. This issue stems from the improper handling of WebIDL object wrapping mechanisms within the browser's security architecture, creating a pathway for malicious actors to circumvent intended access controls. The flaw operates at the intersection of web standards implementation and security boundary enforcement, where the software fails to adequately prevent the repeated wrapping of WebIDL objects that should remain restricted to specific contexts. This vulnerability directly impacts the security model of these applications by allowing unauthorized access to restricted functionality through manipulation of object references within the JavaScript environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability lies in the WebIDL (Web Interface Definition Language) processing within Mozilla's browser engines, where objects are designed to be wrapped in specific security contexts to prevent cross-origin access and privilege escalation. When multiple wrapping occurs, the security boundaries that should isolate different execution contexts become compromised, allowing attackers to manipulate object references and gain access to functionality that should be restricted to privileged code or specific origins. The flaw enables attackers to craft malicious web content that can exploit this weakness through unspecified vectors, potentially involving crafted JavaScript code that leverages the object wrapping behavior to bypass security restrictions. This issue demonstrates a fundamental failure in the object security model implementation, where the wrapping mechanism that should enforce security boundaries becomes a mechanism for bypassing them.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as it represents a significant weakening of the browser's security model that could enable various attack vectors including cross-site scripting, privilege escalation attacks, and potential exploitation of other security flaws. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to access restricted APIs, manipulate browser internals, or gain unauthorized access to user data through the bypassed security controls. The vulnerability particularly affects web applications that rely on browser security boundaries to protect sensitive operations, making it a critical concern for web developers and security administrators who depend on these browsers for secure operation. The impact is compounded by the fact that these applications are widely used, making the potential attack surface substantial and the exploitation risk high.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0765 require immediate patching of affected software versions to ensure proper implementation of WebIDL object wrapping mechanisms. Organizations should prioritize updating Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey installations to versions that contain the security fixes, as these updates address the core implementation flaw in the object wrapping process. Security administrators should also implement network-level monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider deploying additional security controls such as content security policies to reduce the effectiveness of potential attacks. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-254 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, which addresses security weaknesses related to improper handling of security-relevant information and access control mechanisms. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving privilege escalation and exploitation of software vulnerabilities to gain unauthorized access to system resources, making it a significant concern for enterprise security operations and incident response procedures.