CVE-2015-7192 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
The accessibility-tools feature in Mozilla Firefox before 42.0 on OS X improperly interacts with the implementation of the TABLE element, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code by using an NSAccessibilityIndexAttribute value to reference a row index.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/26/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-7192 resides within the accessibility-tools functionality of Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 42.0 on macOS operating systems. This flaw specifically manifests when the browser processes HTML TABLE elements through its accessibility framework, creating a critical security gap that could be exploited by remote attackers to compromise system integrity. The issue stems from improper handling of NSAccessibilityIndexAttribute values, which are used to reference row indices within table structures, creating a pathway for malicious code execution or system instability.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the flawed interaction between Firefox's accessibility implementation and the underlying macOS accessibility APIs. When Firefox encounters a TABLE element with specific accessibility attributes, particularly those involving NSAccessibilityIndexAttribute, the browser fails to properly validate or sanitize the index values before processing them. This inadequate input validation creates a condition where maliciously crafted HTML content can trigger unexpected behavior in the accessibility subsystem, potentially leading to memory corruption or unauthorized code execution. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of web browser rendering and operating system accessibility services, making it particularly dangerous as it can leverage legitimate accessibility features for malicious purposes.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7192 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the vulnerability may enable remote code execution on affected systems. Attackers can craft malicious web pages containing specially formatted TABLE elements that, when rendered by the vulnerable Firefox version, cause the browser to crash or potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the browser. This represents a severe security risk particularly in environments where users may encounter untrusted web content, as the attack vector requires no local privileges and can be delivered through standard web browsing activities. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also enterprise environments where browser security is critical for maintaining network integrity.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of Firefox installations to version 42.0 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the accessibility-tools implementation. Organizations should implement comprehensive browser update policies to ensure all systems remain protected against similar vulnerabilities, as this flaw demonstrates the importance of maintaining current security patches for web browsers. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to block potentially malicious web content, though the most effective defense remains timely patch management. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for remote code execution through web browsers, emphasizing the need for layered defensive measures.