CVE-2014-1566 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox before 31.1 on Android does not properly restrict copying of local files onto the SD card during processing of file: URLs, which allows attackers to obtain sensitive information from the Firefox profile directory via a crafted application. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2014-1515.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/15/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2014-1566 represents a critical security flaw in Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 31.1 on Android platforms. This issue stems from inadequate restrictions during the processing of file: URLs, specifically when handling local file operations that involve copying files to the SD card storage. The flaw was particularly concerning because it emerged as an incomplete remediation for a previously identified vulnerability CVE-2014-1515, indicating a pattern of insufficient security fixes that left systems vulnerable to exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability resides in Firefox's improper handling of file system permissions and access controls when processing local file URLs. During normal operation, when Firefox encounters a file: URL, it should maintain strict boundaries between the application's sandboxed environment and the underlying file system. However, the flaw allowed malicious actors to manipulate this process to copy sensitive files from the Firefox profile directory to the SD card, which is accessible to other applications and potentially to unauthorized users. This represents a direct violation of the principle of least privilege and sandboxing mechanisms that are fundamental to application security.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it creates a persistent attack vector that can be exploited by malicious applications or compromised websites. An attacker with malicious intent could craft a specially designed application that triggers this vulnerability, enabling unauthorized access to sensitive data stored within the Firefox profile directory. This includes potentially sensitive information such as cookies, cached web content, downloaded files, and other user data that Firefox stores locally. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous on Android platforms where SD card access is more permissive and where multiple applications can potentially access the same storage location.
The security implications of CVE-2014-1566 align with several established security frameworks and threat models. From a CWE perspective, this vulnerability maps to CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory, which describes how applications fail to properly validate or restrict file system access paths. The flaw also demonstrates characteristics of CWE-73: External Control of File Name or Path, where external input influences file system operations without proper validation. Additionally, the vulnerability's exploitation pattern aligns with ATT&CK technique T1056.001: Input Injection, as attackers can inject malicious file paths or URL structures to manipulate Firefox's file handling behavior. The incomplete fix nature of this vulnerability also reflects ATT&CK technique T1566.001: Phishing, where the attack vector involves deceiving users or applications into executing malicious code that exploits incomplete security measures.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected Firefox versions to 31.1 or later, which includes proper implementation of file system access controls and restrictions. Organizations should also implement additional security measures such as monitoring for unauthorized file system access patterns, implementing application whitelisting to prevent malicious applications from accessing the SD card, and ensuring that Firefox profile directories are properly secured with appropriate file permissions. Network administrators should consider implementing web content filtering to prevent access to potentially malicious websites that could exploit this vulnerability. The fix for this vulnerability specifically addresses the incomplete remediation of CVE-2014-1515 by properly implementing access controls for file system operations, thereby closing the security gap that attackers could exploit to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored within Firefox's profile directory.