CVE-2013-1674 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox before 21.0, Firefox ESR 17.x before 17.0.6, Thunderbird before 17.0.6, and Thunderbird ESR 17.x before 17.0.6 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors involving an onresize event during the playing of a video.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/14/2021
The CVE-2013-1674 vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird email clients that existed prior to specific version releases. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which occurs when a program continues to reference memory after it has been freed, creating opportunities for malicious code execution. The flaw specifically manifests during video playback when an onresize event triggers improper memory management, allowing attackers to manipulate the application's memory state through crafted web content.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the interaction between JavaScript event handling and the browser's video rendering engine. When a video element triggers an onresize event during playback, the browser's memory management system fails to properly handle the reference counting for allocated memory structures. This improper handling creates a window where freed memory can be reallocated and accessed by malicious code, enabling attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the victim's browser process. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates entirely within the browser's sandboxed environment, making it difficult to detect and prevent through traditional network security measures.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Attackers can leverage this flaw to bypass security restrictions, install malware, steal sensitive data, or perform privilege escalation attacks. The vulnerability affects multiple Mozilla products including Firefox, Firefox ESR, Thunderbird, and Thunderbird ESR, making it a widespread concern across enterprise and individual users. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as it provides initial access that can be used for further system compromise. The remote nature of the attack means that victims can be compromised simply by viewing malicious web content, without requiring any user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1674 primarily involve immediate patching of affected software versions and implementation of browser hardening measures. Organizations should prioritize updating to Firefox 21.0, Firefox ESR 17.0.6, Thunderbird 17.0.6, or later versions that contain the necessary memory management fixes. Additionally, browser security configurations should be enhanced through content security policies, sandboxing enforcement, and disabling unnecessary JavaScript features. Network-level protections such as web application firewalls and intrusion detection systems can help detect and block exploitation attempts, while user education regarding safe browsing practices remains essential. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and vulnerability management programs that can identify and remediate similar memory corruption flaws before they can be exploited in the wild.