CVE-2015-7194 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer underflow in libjar in Mozilla Firefox before 42.0 and Firefox ESR 38.x before 38.4 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a crafted ZIP archive.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/23/2024
The vulnerability CVE-2015-7194 represents a critical buffer underflow condition within the jar library component of Mozilla Firefox browsers. This flaw exists in versions prior to 42.0 and Firefox ESR 38.x versions before 38.4, creating a significant security risk for users of affected software. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of crafted ZIP archives, which can be exploited through web-based attacks to compromise system integrity and potentially execute malicious code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the jar library's processing of compressed archive files. When Firefox encounters a malformed ZIP archive, the library fails to properly validate buffer boundaries during decompression operations, leading to memory corruption. This buffer underflow condition occurs during the parsing of archive metadata and file entries, where insufficient input validation allows attackers to manipulate memory structures through carefully crafted archive contents. The flaw falls under the CWE-129 category of Improper Validation of Array Index, which specifically addresses issues related to inadequate bounds checking in array operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it can potentially enable remote code execution. Attackers can construct malicious ZIP archives that, when processed by vulnerable Firefox versions, trigger memory corruption that may be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. This represents a serious threat to user security since ZIP archives are commonly encountered in web browsing scenarios, including email attachments, web downloads, and embedded content within web pages. The vulnerability's exploitation potential aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for Command and Scripting Interpreter, as successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute commands within the victim's browser environment.
Security professionals should recognize that this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of input validation in archive processing libraries. The flaw highlights the need for robust bounds checking mechanisms when handling compressed file formats, particularly in web browsers that must process untrusted content from multiple sources. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected Firefox installations to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security practices, as the affected versions represent widely deployed browser releases that would have been in use across numerous enterprise and consumer environments. Additionally, this vulnerability serves as a reminder of the ongoing risks associated with complex archive processing libraries and the necessity of thorough security testing for file handling components in web browsers.