CVE-2013-0767 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The nsSVGPathElement::GetPathLengthScale function in Mozilla Firefox before 18.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.12 and 17.x before 17.0.1, Thunderbird before 17.0.2, Thunderbird ESR 10.x before 10.0.12 and 17.x before 17.0.1, and SeaMonkey before 2.15 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/20/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-0767 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the SVG path handling functionality of Mozilla Firefox and related applications. This issue affects multiple versions of the browser and its email client counterparts, creating a significant attack surface for remote code execution and denial of service conditions. The vulnerability resides in the nsSVGPathElement::GetPathLengthScale function which processes Scalable Vector Graphics elements, particularly those involving path length calculations. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate SVG content in ways that trigger memory access violations when the application attempts to read data beyond allocated memory boundaries.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within the SVG rendering engine. When processing malformed or specially crafted SVG elements, the GetPathLengthScale function fails to properly bounds-check array accesses or validate path data structures, leading to predictable memory corruption patterns. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and represents a classic example of how graphical rendering components can become attack vectors. The flaw operates at the intersection of web standards processing and memory safety, where the parsing of vector graphics elements can be manipulated to trigger memory access violations that may be exploitable for arbitrary code execution.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents substantial risk to users of affected versions since SVG content can be embedded in web pages, email messages, or other digital content without user interaction. Attackers can craft malicious SVG files or web content that, when rendered by the vulnerable browser, triggers the out-of-bounds read condition. The potential impact includes complete system compromise through remote code execution, as demonstrated by similar vulnerabilities in the same category, or more limited denial of service scenarios that can disrupt user sessions. The vulnerability's presence in both Firefox and Thunderbird applications means that attackers can target users through web browsing or email exploitation, amplifying the attack surface significantly.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-0767 primarily focus on immediate version updates to patched releases of the affected software. Users should upgrade to Firefox 18.0, Thunderbird 17.0.2, or corresponding ESR versions that contain the necessary fixes for this memory corruption issue. Organizations should implement network-level protections through web content filtering systems that can detect and block potentially malicious SVG content, particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted web content. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing browser hardening measures including sandboxing, memory protection mechanisms, and regular security assessments of web applications that process SVG content. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all browser and email client software, as these components often serve as primary attack vectors for sophisticated cyber threats. This issue demonstrates how seemingly specialized functionality like SVG path handling can become critical attack surfaces that require careful security review and continuous monitoring for similar vulnerabilities in web rendering engines.