CVE-2015-2737 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The rx::d3d11::SetBufferData function in the Direct3D 11 implementation in Mozilla Firefox before 39.0, Firefox ESR 31.x before 31.8 and 38.x before 38.1, and Thunderbird before 38.1 reads data from uninitialized memory locations, which has unspecified impact and attack vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-2737 represents a critical memory safety issue within the Direct3D 11 graphics implementation of Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird applications. This flaw exists in the rx::d3d11::SetBufferData function which handles buffer data operations in the graphics subsystem. The vulnerability arises when the application fails to properly initialize memory regions before reading data from them, creating a potential pathway for information disclosure and system compromise. The affected versions include Firefox prior to 39.0, Firefox ESR 31.x prior to 31.8, Firefox 38.x prior to 38.1, and Thunderbird prior to 38.1, indicating this issue affected a significant portion of the browser ecosystem during that time period.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from uninitialized memory reads within the graphics driver abstraction layer. When the SetBufferData function processes graphics buffer operations, it attempts to read data from memory locations that have not been properly initialized with known values. This behavior creates a scenario where sensitive information from previous operations, system memory contents, or other data structures may be inadvertently exposed through the graphics processing pipeline. The unspecified impact and attack vectors associated with this vulnerability reflect the complexity of determining exactly how an attacker could exploit such memory access patterns, though the potential for information disclosure and privilege escalation remains significant. This type of vulnerability is classified under CWE-457 as "Use of Uninitialized Variable" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" as it could be exploited through web-based JavaScript execution contexts.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2737 extends beyond simple information disclosure, as uninitialized memory reads can potentially expose sensitive data such as cryptographic keys, user credentials, or system memory contents to unauthorized access. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious web content that triggers the vulnerable Direct3D 11 buffer operations, potentially leading to the extraction of confidential information from the target system. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the target application to be running on a system with Direct3D 11 support and to process graphics-intensive content, making it particularly concerning for web browsers that frequently handle multimedia content. Given that Firefox and Thunderbird were widely used applications, this vulnerability could have enabled attackers to gather sensitive information from users' systems, potentially compromising user privacy and system security. The vulnerability also highlights the risks associated with graphics driver implementations and the complexity of ensuring memory safety in graphics processing contexts. Mitigation efforts should focus on updating to patched versions of the affected software, implementing proper memory initialization practices, and potentially disabling hardware acceleration features until the vulnerability is fully addressed. Organizations should also consider monitoring for exploitation attempts and implementing network-based protections to detect potential attacks targeting this specific vulnerability.