CVE-2013-1685 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the nsIDocument::GetRootElement function in Mozilla Firefox before 22.0, Firefox ESR 17.x before 17.0.7, Thunderbird before 17.0.7, and Thunderbird ESR 17.x before 17.0.7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (heap memory corruption) via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1685 represents a critical use-after-free condition within the nsIDocument::GetRootElement function of Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird applications. This flaw exists in versions prior to 22.0 for Firefox and Firefox ESR 17.x before 17.0.7, as well as in Thunderbird versions before 17.0.7 and Thunderbird ESR 17.x before 17.0.7, making it a widespread issue affecting multiple products in the Mozilla ecosystem. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management where freed memory locations are accessed after they have been deallocated, creating a dangerous scenario for attackers to exploit.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the manipulation of document objects within the browser's rendering engine, specifically targeting the GetRootElement method which is responsible for retrieving the root element of a document. When malicious web content triggers this specific code path, the application fails to properly validate memory references, leading to a situation where freed memory can be accessed and potentially overwritten by attacker-controlled data. This use-after-free condition creates a heap memory corruption scenario that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions. The flaw falls under CWE-416, which specifically addresses use-after-free vulnerabilities, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution through browser-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation as it represents a sophisticated attack vector that can be delivered through standard web browsing activities. Attackers can craft malicious websites that, when visited by unsuspecting users, trigger the vulnerable code path and potentially gain control over the victim's system. The heap corruption aspect means that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, as attackers can manipulate memory layout to inject and execute malicious code. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects both desktop browsers and email clients, expanding the attack surface significantly. The memory corruption can manifest in various ways including crashes, data corruption, or more dangerously full privilege escalation. Organizations using affected versions of these applications face elevated risk of targeted attacks, especially in environments where users regularly browse untrusted websites or receive email from unknown sources, making this vulnerability a critical concern for enterprise security teams.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1685 focus primarily on immediate version upgrades to patched releases, as this represents a straightforward remediation approach. Users and organizations should prioritize updating to Firefox 22.0 or later, Thunderbird 17.0.7 or later, and their respective ESR versions. Additional protective measures include implementing web filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains, enabling security features such as sandboxing and content security policies, and conducting user awareness training to recognize potentially malicious web content. Network-level protections such as intrusion detection systems and web application firewalls can provide additional layers of defense, though the most effective mitigation remains timely patch deployment. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual browser behavior or memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where automated patching is not immediately possible.