CVE-2015-4509 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Use-after-free vulnerability in the HTMLVideoElement interface in Mozilla Firefox before 41.0 and Firefox ESR 38.x before 38.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted JavaScript code that modifies the URI table of a media element, aka ZDI-CAN-3176.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/22/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2015-4509 represents a critical use-after-free flaw within Mozilla Firefox's HTMLVideoElement interface, affecting versions prior to 41.0 and Firefox ESR 38.x before 38.3. This security issue falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, where memory that has been freed is still accessed by the application. The vulnerability specifically targets the media element URI table manipulation within the HTMLVideoElement interface, creating a scenario where remote attackers can exploit this weakness to execute arbitrary code on affected systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when crafted JavaScript code manipulates the URI table of a media element, causing a specific memory management error. When Firefox processes video elements and encounters malformed or malicious URI references, the underlying memory allocation patterns become corrupted. The use-after-free condition manifests when the application attempts to access memory that has already been deallocated, potentially allowing attackers to control the execution flow of the browser. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through web content without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-4509 extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a complete compromise of the affected system's security boundaries. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability can potentially gain full control over user sessions, access sensitive data, perform arbitrary operations, and establish persistent access to victim systems. The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Firefox is widely deployed, as it can serve as a primary attack vector for advanced persistent threats. The remote nature of the exploit means that attackers can target users from anywhere on the internet, making this vulnerability highly scalable and dangerous.
Security mitigations for CVE-2015-4509 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to Firefox 41.0 or Firefox ESR 38.3 and later versions, which contain the necessary memory management fixes. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls, content security policies, and browser hardening configurations that limit the execution of potentially malicious JavaScript code. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript execution and T1071.001 for application layer protocol usage, making it a significant concern for threat detection and response teams. Network monitoring should specifically look for suspicious JavaScript patterns and media element manipulation that could indicate exploitation attempts.