CVE-2017-5410 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Memory corruption resulting in a potentially exploitable crash during garbage collection of JavaScript due errors in how incremental sweeping is managed for memory cleanup. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 52, Firefox ESR < 45.8, Thunderbird < 52, and Thunderbird < 45.8.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-5410 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that manifests during JavaScript garbage collection processes within Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird applications. This issue specifically targets the incremental sweeping mechanism used for memory cleanup operations, creating conditions where improper memory management can lead to system instability and potential exploitation. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Firefox and Thunderbird, with Firefox versions prior to 52 and Firefox ESR versions prior to 45.8 being particularly susceptible, alongside Thunderbird versions before 52 and Thunderbird ESR versions before 45.8. The flaw resides in the JavaScript engine's memory management subsystem, where errors in how incremental sweeping operations are handled can result in corrupted memory structures that may be leveraged by malicious actors.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate handling of memory cleanup operations during JavaScript execution cycles. When the garbage collector performs incremental sweeping, it traverses memory segments to identify and reclaim unused JavaScript objects and associated resources. The flaw occurs when the incremental sweeping process fails to properly account for certain memory states or when it encounters unexpected conditions during memory traversal. This mismanagement can result in memory addresses being accessed incorrectly, leading to buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption scenarios that can cause the application to crash or potentially execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it occurs during routine JavaScript garbage collection, making it difficult to detect and exploit in normal usage scenarios while still maintaining the potential for successful attack exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-5410 extends beyond simple application instability to encompass significant security risks for affected systems. When exploited, this vulnerability can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to full system compromise. The timing of the vulnerability during garbage collection means that exploitation can occur during normal web browsing or email operations, making detection challenging for security monitoring systems. Organizations running affected versions of Firefox or Thunderbird face substantial risk exposure, as this vulnerability can be leveraged through malicious web content or email attachments to gain unauthorized access to systems. The widespread use of these applications across enterprise and consumer environments amplifies the potential impact, as attackers can craft attacks targeting the specific memory corruption patterns that this vulnerability presents.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-5410 primarily focus on immediate version upgrades to patched releases of Firefox and Thunderbird. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected applications to versions 52 or later for Firefox and Thunderbird, and 45.8 or later for the ESR versions. Additional protective measures include implementing network-based security controls such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems that can detect and block malicious JavaScript content. Browser hardening techniques should be employed, including disabling unnecessary JavaScript features, implementing strict content security policies, and using sandboxing technologies to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should also conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify all systems running affected software versions and implement monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-122 (Heap Overflow) and CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) categories, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 (Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript) in its exploitation methods, demonstrating how memory corruption vulnerabilities can enable execution of malicious code through web-based attack vectors.