CVE-2015-7177 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The InitTextures 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7177 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Mozilla Firefox's InitTextures function, affecting versions prior to 41.0 and Firefox ESR 38.x before 38.3. This issue resides in the graphics rendering subsystem of the browser, specifically within the texture initialization process that handles graphical content rendering. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management during the initialization of texture objects, creating potential pathways for malicious exploitation that could result in system instability or arbitrary code execution.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and unpredictable behavior. The InitTextures function operates within the browser's graphics processing pipeline, where it initializes texture objects for rendering web content including images, videos, and complex graphical elements. When processing malformed or maliciously crafted web content, the function fails to properly validate memory boundaries during texture allocation, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate memory structures through carefully constructed input vectors. This flaw operates at the intersection of graphics processing and memory management, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through standard web browsing activities.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7177 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the memory corruption vulnerability could potentially enable remote code execution depending on the specific attack vector and system configuration. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability by crafting malicious web pages containing specially formatted graphics content that, when rendered by the affected Firefox versions, would trigger the memory corruption in the InitTextures function. The vulnerability's potential for unspecified other impacts suggests that it may provide a foothold for more sophisticated attacks, potentially allowing adversaries to escalate privileges or execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This makes the vulnerability particularly concerning in enterprise environments where Firefox is widely deployed.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7177 primarily focus on immediate version updates to Firefox 41.0 or Firefox ESR 38.3, which contain patches addressing the memory corruption issue in the InitTextures function. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly. Network administrators should consider implementing web filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains that might host exploit code targeting this vulnerability. Additionally, browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary graphics features and implementing strict content security policies can reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell) and T1203 (Exploitation for Client Execution) highlights the need for layered defensive approaches including endpoint detection and response capabilities to monitor for exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider implementing web application firewalls to detect and block malicious content that could trigger this vulnerability during normal browsing operations.