CVE-2014-1478 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in the browser engine in Mozilla Firefox before 27.0 and SeaMonkey before 2.24 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via vectors related to the MPostWriteBarrier class in js/src/jit/MIR.h and stack alignment in js/src/jit/AsmJS.cpp in OdinMonkey, and unknown other vectors.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1478 represents a critical security flaw affecting Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 27.0 and SeaMonkey versions prior to 2.24. This issue stems from multiple unspecified vulnerabilities within the browser engine's JavaScript engine implementation, specifically targeting the MPostWriteBarrier class located in js/src/jit/MIR.h and stack alignment problems in js/src/jit/AsmJS.cpp within the OdinMonkey JIT compiler subsystem. The affected components operate at the core of Firefox's performance optimization mechanisms, where the MPostWriteBarrier class manages memory management operations during JavaScript execution, while OdinMonkey handles Just-In-Time compilation for asm.js code execution. These vulnerabilities demonstrate the inherent complexity and risk associated with modern browser engine optimizations that must balance performance gains against security robustness.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through carefully crafted malicious web content that triggers memory corruption conditions within the JavaScript engine's JIT compilation process. When the browser encounters specific JavaScript code patterns, particularly those involving asm.js operations and memory management constructs, the flawed MPostWriteBarrier implementation can lead to memory corruption that manifests as application crashes or potentially allows for arbitrary code execution. The stack alignment issues in AsmJS.cpp create additional attack vectors where improper stack handling during JIT compilation can result in memory access violations or control flow hijacking. These flaws align with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework, where memory corruption vulnerabilities serve as primary entry points for remote code execution attacks. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within the scope of CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which covers heap-based buffer overflow scenarios, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of the memory management flaws present in the affected code paths.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-1478 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to potentially enable sophisticated remote exploitation capabilities. Attackers can leverage these vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code on victim machines, effectively bypassing standard security protections and potentially gaining full system control. The memory corruption nature of the flaw means that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise, particularly when combined with other browser-based attack vectors or when targeting systems with limited security mitigations. The vulnerability's presence in both Firefox and SeaMonkey applications creates widespread exposure across the web browser ecosystem, affecting millions of users who rely on these browsers for daily internet activities. Organizations implementing security monitoring solutions would detect abnormal application behavior through crash reporting systems and memory access violation alerts, making this vulnerability particularly challenging to defend against without proper patch management protocols.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-1478 primarily focus on immediate patch deployment and system hardening measures. The most effective solution involves upgrading to Firefox 27.0 or later versions and SeaMonkey 2.24 or later, which contain the necessary code fixes addressing the memory management flaws in both the MPostWriteBarrier implementation and AsmJS stack alignment handling. Security administrators should implement automated patch management systems to ensure rapid deployment of security updates across enterprise environments. Additional mitigations include enabling browser security features such as address space layout randomization, data execution prevention, and sandboxing mechanisms that can limit the impact of successful exploitation attempts. Network-based security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems can help reduce exposure by blocking known malicious content patterns that trigger these vulnerabilities. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under the T1059.007 technique for JavaScript-based execution, highlighting the importance of implementing defensive measures against script-based attack vectors. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that track browser crash patterns and memory access anomalies, as these behaviors often precede successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include checks for outdated browser versions that may still be running vulnerable code, particularly in environments where patch deployment is delayed or restricted.