CVE-2014-1565 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The mozilla::dom::AudioEventTimeline function in the Web Audio API implementation in Mozilla Firefox before 32.0, Firefox ESR 31.x before 31.1, and Thunderbird 31.x before 31.1 does not properly create audio timelines, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process memory or cause a denial of service (out-of-bounds read) via crafted API calls.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-1565 resides within the Web Audio API implementation of Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird applications, specifically affecting versions prior to 32.0 for Firefox and Firefox ESR 31.x before 31.1, as well as Thunderbird 31.x before 31.1. This flaw manifests in the mozilla::dom::AudioEventTimeline function which is responsible for managing audio event timelines within the browser's audio processing subsystem. The issue represents a critical security weakness that could be exploited by remote attackers through carefully crafted API calls that manipulate audio timeline creation processes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the audio timeline creation mechanism. When the Web Audio API processes audio events, the AudioEventTimeline function fails to properly validate or bounds-check memory allocations and access patterns. This improper handling results in out-of-bounds read conditions that can be triggered by malicious web content or crafted audio API calls. The flaw essentially allows attackers to read memory locations beyond the intended boundaries of audio timeline data structures, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory regions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates two primary threat vectors for remote attackers. The first vector involves information disclosure, where attackers can extract sensitive data from process memory through the out-of-bounds read conditions. This could potentially include cryptographic keys, user credentials, or other confidential information stored in memory. The second vector represents a denial of service condition, where the improper memory access can cause the browser application to crash or become unresponsive, effectively disrupting user access to web services and applications.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter usage. The flaw essentially allows attackers to manipulate audio processing functions to achieve unintended memory access patterns, creating a pathway for both information extraction and service disruption. This vulnerability represents a classic example of how multimedia processing components within web browsers can become attack surfaces when proper input validation and memory management practices are not implemented.
Organizations and users should immediately update their browser installations to the patched versions mentioned in the CVE description to mitigate this vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing network-level protections and monitoring for suspicious API usage patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The fix typically involves implementing proper bounds checking and memory validation within the AudioEventTimeline function to prevent unauthorized memory access and ensure that audio timeline creation processes operate within defined memory boundaries.