CVE-2015-7183 in VM VirtualBox
Summary
by MITRE
Integer overflow in the PL_ARENA_ALLOCATE implementation in Netscape Portable Runtime (NSPR) in Mozilla Network Security Services (NSS) before 3.19.2.1 and 3.20.x before 3.20.1, as used in Firefox before 42.0 and Firefox ESR 38.x before 38.4 and other products, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via unspecified vectors.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7183 represents a critical integer overflow flaw within the Netscape Portable Runtime (NSPR) library that forms a foundational component of Mozilla Network Security Services (NSS). This issue specifically affects the PL_ARENA_ALLOCATE implementation, which is responsible for memory allocation operations within the NSS framework. The vulnerability exists in NSS versions prior to 3.19.2.1 and 3.20.x prior to 3.20.1, impacting Firefox versions before 42.0 and Firefox ESR 38.x before 38.4, along with numerous other products that rely on this security infrastructure. The integer overflow occurs during memory allocation processes where insufficient bounds checking allows malicious inputs to manipulate allocation sizes beyond normal limits, creating a condition where the system attempts to allocate memory blocks that exceed the maximum representable integer values.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the fundamental flaw in how integer arithmetic is handled within the memory allocation routines. When an attacker crafts malicious input that triggers the PL_ARENA_ALLOCATE function, the integer overflow can result in a situation where the calculated memory allocation size becomes negative or wraps around to a very large positive value. This misbehavior in memory management creates opportunities for memory corruption that can be systematically exploited to execute arbitrary code or cause application crashes. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at a low level within the security infrastructure, making it difficult to detect and mitigate without comprehensive system updates. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-190, Integer Overflow or Wraparound, which specifically addresses issues where integer arithmetic produces results that exceed the maximum value that can be represented by the data type, creating potential for memory corruption and code execution.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7183 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass full system compromise capabilities. Remote attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems, potentially leading to complete system takeover or data exfiltration. The memory corruption aspects of this flaw can cause unpredictable application behavior, including crashes, data corruption, and system instability. This vulnerability is particularly concerning for web browsers and security applications that rely heavily on NSS for cryptographic operations, as these applications often handle untrusted data from remote sources. The attack surface is broad given the widespread adoption of NSS across various Mozilla products and third-party applications, making this vulnerability a significant concern for enterprise security teams and individual users alike. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter and T1068 for Exploitation for Privilege Escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution within the target environment.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7183 require immediate patching of affected NSS versions to the secure releases mentioned in the advisory. Organizations should prioritize updating Firefox and Firefox ESR installations to versions 42.0 and 38.4 respectively, along with updating all other products that depend on vulnerable NSS implementations. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish baseline configurations that minimize exposure to this vulnerability. The patching process should include thorough testing in controlled environments before deployment to production systems to ensure compatibility with existing applications. Additional defensive measures include implementing web application firewalls, restricting access to vulnerable applications, and monitoring for unusual memory allocation patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. System administrators should also consider implementing automated patch management solutions to ensure timely updates across all affected systems. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date security libraries and the potential consequences of integer overflow flaws in security-critical code components.