CVE-2014-1497 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The mozilla::WaveReader::DecodeAudioData function in Mozilla Firefox before 28.0, Firefox ESR 24.x before 24.4, Thunderbird before 24.4, and SeaMonkey before 2.25 allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process heap memory, cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read and application crash), or possibly have unspecified other impact via a crafted WAV file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1497 represents a critical heap-based memory corruption issue within the multimedia processing component of Mozilla Firefox and related applications. This flaw exists in the mozilla::WaveReader::DecodeAudioData function which handles the decoding of audio data from WAV files, making it a prime target for exploitation through malicious media content. The vulnerability affects multiple Mozilla products including Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey across various versions, with the specific affected ranges being Firefox before 28.0, Firefox ESR 24.x before 24.4, Thunderbird before 24.4, and SeaMonkey before 2.25. The issue stems from inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of WAV file headers and audio data structures, allowing attackers to craft specially malformed files that trigger memory access violations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves an out-of-bounds read condition that occurs when the WaveReader function processes malformed WAV file data without proper validation of buffer boundaries. When a crafted WAV file is processed, the function attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer space, potentially exposing sensitive heap data to attackers. This memory corruption can manifest in several ways including information disclosure where adjacent memory contents are leaked, application crashes due to segmentation faults, or in more severe cases, arbitrary code execution if the vulnerability can be chained with other exploits. The flaw specifically targets the heap memory management system, making it particularly dangerous as it can lead to information disclosure that might reveal cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other sensitive application data stored in memory.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-1497 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it creates multiple attack vectors for sophisticated adversaries. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability by delivering malicious WAV files through various attack vectors including web browsers, email attachments, or file sharing platforms. The vulnerability's potential for information disclosure makes it particularly concerning for users handling sensitive data, as attackers could potentially extract confidential information from the browser's memory space. Additionally, the possibility of unspecified other impacts suggests that the vulnerability might be exploitable for more advanced attack techniques, potentially allowing for privilege escalation or further exploitation within the compromised system. This vulnerability directly maps to CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 for execution through compromised applications, and T1566 for initial access via malicious files.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected applications to the latest available versions that contain the necessary security fixes. Organizations should prioritize updating Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey installations to versions that address this heap memory corruption issue. Additional protective measures include implementing content filtering solutions that can detect and block malicious WAV files, deploying web application firewalls that can identify suspicious file uploads, and configuring browser security settings to restrict media processing capabilities where possible. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual memory access patterns or application crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts. Network administrators should also consider implementing sandboxing techniques for media processing and ensuring that automatic media playback is disabled in browser configurations to reduce attack surface. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all systems remain protected against similar memory corruption vulnerabilities.