CVE-2015-7175 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The XULContentSinkImpl::AddText function in Mozilla Firefox before 41.0 and Firefox ESR 38.x before 38.3 might allow remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) or possibly have unspecified other impact via unknown vectors, related to an "overflow."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7175 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Mozilla Firefox's XULContentSinkImpl::AddText function, affecting versions prior to 41.0 and Firefox ESR 38.x prior to 38.3. This issue falls under the category of buffer overflow vulnerabilities, which are classified as CWE-121 in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, specifically dealing with stack-based buffer overflow conditions. The flaw exists in the application's handling of text content within XUL (XML User Interface Language) documents, which are used extensively for creating user interfaces in Firefox extensions and built-in features. The vulnerability allows remote attackers to manipulate memory structures through crafted input that exceeds expected buffer boundaries, potentially leading to unpredictable application behavior.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when Firefox processes XUL content containing specially crafted text data that triggers the AddText function. This function is responsible for parsing and rendering text content within XUL documents, and the overflow condition manifests when the input text exceeds the allocated memory buffer size. The memory corruption can result in application crashes due to invalid memory access patterns, but in some cases may potentially allow for more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution, though the CVE description specifically notes "unspecified other impact" rather than definitively confirming remote code execution capabilities. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it can be triggered through web content without requiring user interaction, making it a significant threat vector for phishing attacks and other malicious web-based exploits.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for organizations relying on Firefox as their primary browser, especially in enterprise environments where users may encounter malicious web content. The denial of service impact can disrupt user productivity and potentially be used as a vector for more sophisticated attacks. Security analysts should note that this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers "Exploitation for Client Execution" through web-based attack vectors. The affected versions represent a significant portion of Firefox installations at the time of discovery, making this a high-priority vulnerability for immediate remediation. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as part of their broader browser security posture assessment, particularly when evaluating the risk of zero-day exploits in their network infrastructure.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate deployment of patched Firefox versions, specifically Firefox 41.0 and Firefox ESR 38.3 or later, which contain the necessary fixes for the memory overflow condition. System administrators should also implement browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary XUL content processing, implementing web application firewalls, and monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should conduct vulnerability scans to identify any remaining affected systems and ensure that all Firefox installations are updated to the latest stable versions. The fix implemented by Mozilla likely involves bounds checking and proper memory management within the AddText function to prevent buffer overflows when processing text content in XUL documents.