CVE-2013-1673 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The Mozilla Updater in Mozilla Firefox before 21.0 on Windows does not properly maintain Mozilla Maintenance Service registry entries in certain situations involving upgrades from older Firefox versions, which allows local users to gain privileges by leveraging write access to a "trusted path."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/02/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1673 affects the Mozilla Updater component within Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 21.0 on Windows operating systems. This issue stems from improper handling of registry entries associated with the Mozilla Maintenance Service during upgrade processes from older Firefox versions. The flaw creates a privilege escalation vector that can be exploited by local attackers who possess write access to specific system paths.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper maintenance of registry entries that govern the Mozilla Maintenance Service. During the upgrade process from older Firefox versions, the updater fails to correctly manage the registry keys that control service permissions and access controls. This registry mismanagement occurs specifically when upgrading from versions that predate Firefox 21.0, creating a window of opportunity for privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-264, which addresses permissions, privileges, and access controls, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068, which involves exploiting privileges through service execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it allows local users to escalate their privileges from standard user level to elevated permissions. Attackers who can write to what they perceive as a "trusted path" can manipulate the registry entries that control the Mozilla Maintenance Service, potentially gaining administrative privileges on the affected system. This privilege escalation capability enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated permissions, modify system files, and potentially establish persistent access to the compromised system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it leverages the legitimate update mechanism of the browser to gain unauthorized access.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1673 primarily involve upgrading to Firefox version 21.0 or later, where the registry management issues have been addressed. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all Firefox installations are current with security updates. Additionally, organizations should enforce least privilege principles and restrict write access to critical system paths and registry keys. Monitoring for unauthorized modifications to Mozilla-related registry entries and service configurations can help detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of secure update mechanisms and proper privilege handling in software maintenance components, as outlined in security best practices for maintaining system integrity and preventing unauthorized privilege escalation attacks.