CVE-2015-2710 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the SVGTextFrame class in Mozilla Firefox before 38.0, Firefox ESR 31.x before 31.7, and Thunderbird before 31.7 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted SVG graphics data in conjunction with a crafted Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) token sequence.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2710 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird applications. This flaw resides within the SVGTextFrame class, which processes Scalable Vector Graphics content within the browser environment. The vulnerability manifests when the application processes crafted SVG graphics data combined with specific CSS token sequences, creating a condition where memory corruption occurs in the heap allocation region. The flaw specifically impacts versions prior to Firefox 38.0 and Firefox ESR 31.x before 31.7, as well as Thunderbird versions before 31.7, making it a widespread concern across multiple Mozilla products. The vulnerability's exploitation potential stems from the browser's handling of vector graphics elements, which are commonly used in web content and can be embedded within HTML documents through various mechanisms including inline SVG tags or external SVG files.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves a heap-based buffer overflow that occurs during the processing of SVG text elements within the browser's rendering engine. When Firefox encounters crafted SVG graphics data, the SVGTextFrame class fails to properly validate the size of input data before copying it into heap-allocated buffers. This improper bounds checking allows attackers to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially overwriting adjacent heap memory locations. The combination with crafted CSS token sequences amplifies the exploitability by manipulating the parsing flow and memory layout, creating conditions where the overflow can be controlled to overwrite critical memory structures or function pointers. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow, and represents a classic example of how improper memory management can lead to arbitrary code execution. The attack vector requires a remote attacker to craft malicious SVG content that, when rendered by the browser, triggers the vulnerable code path through the SVGTextFrame class.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2710 extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a means to completely compromise affected systems. Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability allows remote code execution with the privileges of the user running the browser application, potentially enabling attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to victim systems. The attack scenario typically involves delivering malicious SVG content through web pages or email attachments, where the browser automatically processes the content during rendering. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or drive-by download attacks, as users need not perform any additional actions beyond visiting a compromised website or opening an infected email. The vulnerability's prevalence across multiple versions of Firefox and Thunderbird means that organizations with legacy systems or delayed patch management could remain vulnerable for extended periods, creating persistent exposure windows.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2710 focus primarily on immediate patching and deployment of security updates from Mozilla. Organizations should prioritize updating to Firefox 38.0 or later, Firefox ESR 31.7 or later, and Thunderbird 31.7 or later to eliminate the vulnerability. In environments where immediate patching is not feasible, administrators can implement network-level restrictions to block access to known malicious SVG content or use content filtering solutions to prevent automatic rendering of SVG elements. Browser security configurations can be adjusted to disable SVG processing or implement additional sandboxing measures, though these approaches may impact legitimate website functionality. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) and T1190 (Exploit Public-Facing Application) highlights the need for comprehensive security monitoring and incident response procedures. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis, web application firewalls, and endpoint detection systems, as the attack may manifest through unusual memory access patterns or unexpected process behavior. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification of browser versions and patch status to ensure complete remediation of this heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability.