CVE-2015-2744 in Firefox OS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Search app in Gaia in Mozilla Firefox OS before 2.2 allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary HTML via a crafted search link that is mishandled after re-opening the browser or opening the tab view.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/01/2017
The vulnerability CVE-2015-2744 represents a cross-site scripting flaw within the Search application component of Mozilla Firefox OS operating system versions prior to 2.2. This security weakness resides in the Gaia user interface framework which serves as the foundation for Firefox OS device functionality. The vulnerability specifically affects how the system handles crafted search links that are processed when users reopen the browser application or access the tab view interface. Such improper handling of user-supplied input creates an avenue for malicious actors to execute arbitrary HTML code within the context of the victim's browser session.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-79, which describes cross-site scripting weaknesses where untrusted data is improperly incorporated into web pages without adequate validation or sanitization. The flaw manifests when Firefox OS processes search URLs that contain malicious HTML content, particularly those that are constructed to exploit the application's tab management system. When users navigate back to the browser interface or open the tab view, the system fails to properly sanitize or escape the malicious content, allowing it to execute as legitimate script within the browser environment. This behavior creates a persistent XSS vector that can be triggered through simple web navigation rather than requiring complex exploitation techniques.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-2744 extends beyond typical web-based XSS scenarios due to the mobile operating system context. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious scripts that may access user data, modify browser behavior, or redirect users to malicious websites. The vulnerability's persistence across browser sessions means that once a malicious link is visited and the browser is reopened, the attack executes automatically without requiring additional user interaction. This characteristic significantly increases the attack surface and potential damage compared to traditional XSS vulnerabilities that require repeated user engagement. The vulnerability affects all Firefox OS devices running versions before 2.2, creating a substantial risk for organizations and individuals using these platforms.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-2744 primarily focus on upgrading to Firefox OS version 2.2 or later where the vulnerability has been addressed through proper input sanitization and output escaping mechanisms. System administrators should implement comprehensive patch management protocols to ensure all Firefox OS devices receive timely updates. Additionally, organizations can deploy web application firewalls or content filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious search URLs before they reach the vulnerable browser components. The remediation process should include thorough testing of the updated firmware to ensure that security patches do not introduce compatibility issues with existing applications. Security monitoring should also be enhanced to detect anomalous search patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Organizations using Firefox OS devices should also consider implementing network-level controls to restrict access to potentially malicious domains and maintain regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in the mobile operating system ecosystem. This vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation in mobile operating system components and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.008 for script injection attacks targeting browser environments.