CVE-2016-2813 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla Firefox before 46.0 on Android does not properly restrict JavaScript access to orientation and motion data, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information about a device's physical environment, and possibly discover PIN values, via a crafted web site, a similar issue to CVE-2016-1780.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/27/2022
The vulnerability described in CVE-2016-2813 represents a significant security flaw in Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 46.0 on Android platforms. This issue stems from insufficient restrictions on JavaScript access to device orientation and motion data, creating a pathway for remote attackers to exploit device sensor information. The flaw specifically affects the mobile browser implementation where JavaScript execution can potentially access accelerometer and gyroscope data without proper security boundaries. This vulnerability is particularly concerning as it enables attackers to gather sensitive environmental information about the device's physical surroundings through malicious web content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's failure to properly enforce security policies when JavaScript attempts to access device orientation and motion sensor APIs. When a malicious website loads, it can utilize JavaScript APIs such as DeviceOrientationEvent and DeviceMotionEvent to collect data from the device's physical sensors. These APIs are designed to provide information about device tilt, rotation, and movement patterns, but the security boundary between web content and device hardware was not properly enforced in affected Firefox versions. This allows malicious code to gather detailed information about device positioning and movement that could reveal physical location data or other sensitive environmental information.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it can potentially enable attackers to infer sensitive data such as PIN values through sophisticated analysis of device movement patterns. Attackers could craft malicious web pages that monitor how users interact with their devices, particularly when entering PINs or passwords, by analyzing subtle device movements and orientation changes. This represents a serious privacy and security concern as it could lead to unauthorized access to user accounts and sensitive information. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently interact with their devices in close proximity to others, creating opportunities for passive data collection.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which describes improper exposure of sensitive information, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1566, specifically "Phishing" through malicious website content. The flaw also relates to CWE-352, which addresses cross-site request forgery, as the malicious web content can exploit the browser's trust model to access sensitive device data. The attack vector involves social engineering through malicious websites that can be delivered through various means including email attachments, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements. Organizations should implement browser security policies that restrict access to sensor APIs and ensure timely patching of affected Firefox versions. The recommended mitigation includes upgrading to Firefox 46.0 or later, implementing network-level controls to block suspicious content, and educating users about the risks of visiting untrusted websites. Additionally, browser security configurations should be reviewed to limit JavaScript access to device sensor data and implement proper security boundaries between web content and device hardware.