CVE-2015-0835 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in the browser engine in Mozilla Firefox before 36.0 allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via unknown vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/10/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-0835 represents a critical security flaw within the browser engine of Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 36.0. This issue falls under the category of unspecified vulnerabilities, indicating that the exact nature of the flaws within the browser engine remains undisclosed in the initial CVE description. The affected browser engine components are responsible for processing web content and handling various browser functionalities, making them prime targets for exploitation by malicious actors seeking to compromise user systems. The vulnerability's classification as affecting the browser engine suggests it operates at a foundational level where memory management and code execution pathways intersect, creating potential attack surfaces that could be leveraged for more sophisticated exploits.
The technical implications of CVE-2015-0835 manifest through memory corruption and application crash conditions that can be triggered remotely by attackers. These memory corruption vulnerabilities typically arise from improper handling of memory allocation, deallocation, or access patterns within the browser engine's codebase. The flaw allows attackers to manipulate memory structures in ways that could lead to unpredictable behavior, including system crashes or potentially more dangerous outcomes such as arbitrary code execution. The unspecified nature of the vectors means that multiple attack pathways could exist within the browser engine's processing logic, making the vulnerability particularly concerning for security professionals who must account for various potential exploitation techniques. Such vulnerabilities often stem from buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory safety issues that are commonly categorized under CWE-119 and CWE-125.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as it could potentially enable remote code execution on affected systems. When attackers can trigger memory corruption through carefully crafted web content, they may be able to manipulate the browser's execution flow to execute malicious code with the privileges of the browser process. This represents a significant risk to users who browse the internet without proper security measures, as merely visiting a compromised website could result in system compromise. The vulnerability affects users across various operating systems where Firefox is installed, creating a broad attack surface that could be exploited through different delivery mechanisms including malicious websites, phishing campaigns, or compromised web advertisements. The potential for remote code execution places this vulnerability in the high-risk category according to standard security frameworks and threat modeling practices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-0835 center on immediate patch deployment and browser updates to version 36.0 or later, which would contain the necessary security fixes for the identified vulnerabilities. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all Firefox installations are updated promptly, as the vulnerability affects a wide range of users and systems. Security teams should also consider implementing additional protective measures such as browser hardening configurations, content filtering solutions, and network-based security controls to reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities for remote code execution, and may also relate to T1059 for command and control activities that could follow successful exploitation. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of affected Firefox versions within organizational networks, as well as monitoring for any attempts to exploit this vulnerability through network traffic analysis or endpoint detection and response systems.