CVE-2013-1700 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The Mozilla Maintenance Service in Mozilla Firefox before 22.0 on Windows does not properly handle inability to launch the Mozilla Updater executable file, which allows local users to gain privileges via vectors involving placement of a Trojan horse executable file at an arbitrary location.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/17/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1700 resides within the Mozilla Maintenance Service component of Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 22.0 on Windows operating systems. This flaw represents a critical privilege escalation vulnerability that stems from improper error handling mechanisms within the service's execution flow. The issue manifests when the Mozilla Maintenance Service attempts to launch the Mozilla Updater executable but fails to properly manage scenarios where the updater cannot be initiated, creating a window of opportunity for malicious exploitation.
The technical flaw specifically involves the service's failure to validate or properly sanitize the execution environment when launching the updater process. When the service encounters an inability to launch the Mozilla Updater executable, it does not implement adequate security controls to prevent arbitrary code execution. This behavior creates a path where a local attacker can position a malicious Trojan horse executable file at an arbitrary location within the system's path or execution hierarchy, effectively allowing the service to execute the attacker-controlled binary instead of the legitimate updater. The vulnerability operates under the principle of insecure temporary file handling and path manipulation, which aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables local users to achieve privilege escalation on affected systems, potentially allowing them to execute code with elevated privileges. The attack requires local system access but does not necessitate network connectivity or user interaction, making it particularly concerning for environments where local access is not strictly controlled. The exploitation process involves placing a malicious executable in a location where the Mozilla Maintenance Service will attempt to execute it, effectively creating a persistent backdoor or escalation mechanism. This vulnerability can be leveraged by attackers who have already established a foothold on a system to elevate their privileges and gain more extensive control over the affected machine.
The security implications extend beyond simple privilege escalation, as this vulnerability can be combined with other attack vectors to create more sophisticated compromise scenarios. The flaw demonstrates poor security implementation practices in service design and execution flow management, particularly in how the service handles error conditions and process execution. Organizations running affected versions of Firefox are exposed to potential compromise through this vulnerability, especially in environments where local user access is not adequately restricted. The vulnerability's impact is further amplified by the fact that it affects a core browser maintenance component that runs with elevated privileges, creating a significant attack surface for privilege escalation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected Firefox installations to version 22.0 or later, where the vulnerability has been addressed through improved error handling and execution validation mechanisms. System administrators should also implement strict access controls and monitoring of the Mozilla Maintenance Service execution paths to detect unauthorized modifications or attempts to place malicious executables. The implementation of application whitelisting policies and enhanced path validation can help prevent exploitation attempts. Additionally, regular security assessments should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in other software components that may exhibit similar error handling flaws, as this pattern represents a common security weakness in service-oriented applications. This vulnerability highlights the importance of robust error handling and privilege separation in system services, particularly those that execute with elevated permissions, and aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under privilege escalation techniques.