CVE-2014-1542 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in the Speex resampler in the Web Audio subsystem in Mozilla Firefox before 30.0 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to a crafted AudioBuffer channel count and sample rate.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/22/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1542 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the Speex resampler component of Mozilla Firefox's Web Audio subsystem. This issue affects versions prior to Firefox 30.0 and exposes users to significant remote code execution risks. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and memory management within the audio processing pipeline, specifically when handling crafted AudioBuffer configurations with manipulated channel counts and sample rates. The Speex resampler is designed to handle audio format conversions and sampling rate adjustments, making it a crucial component in web audio processing. However, the implementation contains a flaw where the system fails to properly validate the boundaries of memory allocations when processing audio data with specific parameter combinations. This oversight creates a condition where attacker-controlled input can overwrite adjacent memory regions, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability operates through the Web Audio API which allows web applications to process and synthesize audio in real-time, making it accessible through standard web browsing activities without requiring special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The technical nature of this buffer overflow aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient boundary checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations. The flaw manifests when the Web Audio subsystem receives a crafted AudioBuffer object with an unusually high channel count and sample rate combination that causes the Speex resampler to allocate insufficient memory for processing. This misalignment between expected and actual memory requirements creates a situation where subsequent writes to the allocated buffer exceed its boundaries, potentially corrupting critical program data or executable code. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage, making it a prime candidate for drive-by download scenarios. The vulnerability demonstrates how multimedia processing components in web browsers can serve as attack surfaces when proper input sanitization and memory management practices are not implemented. The Web Audio API's design allows for complex audio processing operations that must handle various input formats and configurations, but this flexibility introduces complexity that can lead to memory safety issues when not properly constrained.
The operational impact of CVE-2014-1542 extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass potential system compromise and data exposure. Attackers exploiting this vulnerability can gain arbitrary code execution privileges on affected systems, potentially allowing them to install malware, modify system files, or exfiltrate sensitive information. The attack requires minimal user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or compromised websites that can silently exploit this flaw. Organizations using vulnerable Firefox versions face significant risk as the vulnerability can be exploited through standard web browsing activities without any suspicious behavior detection. The memory corruption resulting from the buffer overflow can lead to application crashes, but more critically, can be leveraged to achieve persistent access through the execution of malicious code. This vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of input validation in multimedia processing libraries, as the flaw exists in a component that handles audio data processing for web applications. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where users may visit untrusted websites or be exposed to malicious content through various attack vectors including email attachments or social engineering campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2014-1542 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to Firefox 30.0 or later, which contain patches addressing the buffer overflow condition. System administrators should prioritize deployment of the patched Firefox versions across all affected systems, particularly in enterprise environments where the risk of exploitation is higher. Additionally, implementing network-based security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions can provide additional layers of protection while waiting for full patch deployment. Browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary audio processing features and restricting web audio API access to trusted domains can reduce the attack surface. Organizations should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual audio processing activities or memory allocation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and following security best practices, as the patched version includes improved input validation and memory management for the Speex resampler component. Security teams should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running older Firefox versions and ensure comprehensive patch management processes are in place to prevent similar issues in the future. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical nature of multimedia processing components in modern browsers and the necessity of robust security controls throughout the software development lifecycle.