CVE-2017-7754 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
An out-of-bounds read in WebGL with a maliciously crafted "ImageInfo" object during WebGL operations. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 54, Firefox ESR < 52.2, and Thunderbird < 52.2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7754 represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw within the WebGL graphics rendering subsystem of Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird applications. This issue manifests when the browser encounters a maliciously crafted ImageInfo object during WebGL operations, creating a scenario where memory access occurs beyond the boundaries of allocated buffers. The flaw resides in the WebGL implementation's handling of image data structures, specifically in how it processes and validates ImageInfo objects that are part of the graphics processing pipeline. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to information disclosure, system instability, or potential code execution. The vulnerability affects versions of Firefox prior to 54, Firefox ESR prior to 52.2, and Thunderbird prior to 52.2, indicating that these applications were susceptible to memory corruption issues when processing untrusted WebGL content. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory access violations as it creates potential attack vectors that could be exploited by malicious actors to gain unauthorized access to system resources or execute arbitrary code within the browser context. The flaw demonstrates how graphics processing libraries can introduce security risks when input validation is insufficient, particularly in complex rendering environments like WebGL that handle various image formats and data structures.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2017-7754 requires an attacker to craft a malicious ImageInfo object that, when processed by the WebGL engine, triggers the out-of-bounds read condition. This typically involves manipulating the size parameters or data structure fields within the ImageInfo object to cause the graphics driver or rendering engine to access memory locations outside the intended buffer boundaries. The vulnerability can be leveraged through web-based attacks where an attacker hosts malicious WebGL content on a compromised website or delivers it through phishing campaigns targeting vulnerable browser installations. When the victim's browser processes this malicious content, the out-of-bounds read can result in information disclosure, potentially exposing sensitive memory contents such as stack data, heap contents, or other process memory that could aid in further exploitation attempts. The exploitation chain aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for script-based attacks and T1068 for local privilege escalation, as the initial read operation can provide attackers with information needed to bypass security mitigations or escalate privileges within the browser sandbox. The vulnerability represents a classic example of how graphics rendering engines can introduce security risks through insufficient input validation and memory boundary checking, particularly when dealing with complex image data structures that may be subject to manipulation by untrusted sources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2017-7754 primarily focus on updating affected applications to versions that contain patches addressing the out-of-bounds read condition in WebGL operations. Mozilla released fixes in Firefox version 54 and Thunderbird version 52.2, which included enhanced validation routines for ImageInfo objects and improved memory boundary checking within the WebGL implementation. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these security updates across all affected systems to eliminate the risk of exploitation. Additional defensive measures include implementing browser security policies that restrict WebGL access to trusted domains only, utilizing content security policies that limit the execution of potentially malicious WebGL content, and deploying network-level protections such as web application firewalls that can detect and block suspicious WebGL operations. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of regular security assessments and penetration testing of graphics rendering components within browser applications, as these subsystems often represent attack surfaces that are underexplored compared to traditional web application security concerns. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions that can detect anomalous WebGL activity patterns or memory access violations that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly in environments where users frequently access untrusted web content. The remediation process should also include user education regarding the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software to protect against known vulnerabilities.