CVE-2014-1484 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox before 27.0 on Android 4.2 and earlier creates system-log entries containing profile paths, which allows attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted application.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1484 affects Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 27.0 on Android 4.2 and earlier operating systems. This security flaw stems from Firefox's improper handling of system log entries during application execution, specifically when logging profile paths. The vulnerability represents a classic information disclosure issue that can be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to sensitive system information.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves Firefox's logging behavior on Android platforms where it inadvertently includes profile path information in system log files. When a malicious application is crafted to monitor or access these system logs, it can extract the profile paths that contain sensitive user data and system configuration details. This occurs because Firefox fails to sanitize or properly obfuscate profile path information before writing it to system log structures. The issue is particularly concerning on Android 4.2 and earlier versions due to the logging infrastructure and permissions model differences in those older operating system versions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability enables attackers to obtain sensitive information that could be used for further exploitation attempts. The profile paths exposed through system logs may contain user-specific directory structures, application data locations, and potentially other identifying information that could aid in targeting more sophisticated attacks. This information disclosure vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information to an unauthorized actor. The impact is particularly significant in mobile environments where users may have less control over their system logging mechanisms and where profile information can reveal user behavior patterns and application usage data.
The attack vector for this vulnerability is relatively straightforward as it requires only a crafted application with appropriate permissions to access system logs. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1074.001 which covers data from system logs. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign logging functionality can become a security risk when proper information sanitization is not implemented. Mobile device users running affected Firefox versions on older Android systems face the greatest risk, as these platforms typically have less sophisticated security controls and logging management compared to newer versions.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include upgrading to Firefox version 27.0 or later, which contains fixes for the improper logging behavior. System administrators and users should ensure that all mobile devices are updated to the latest available versions of Firefox and Android operating systems. Additionally, organizations should implement monitoring of system log entries to detect unusual logging patterns and consider implementing log sanitization policies that prevent sensitive information from being written to system logs in the first place. The fix implemented by Mozilla involved modifying the logging mechanism to remove or obfuscate profile path information before writing to system logs, addressing the root cause of the information disclosure vulnerability.