CVE-2017-7780 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Memory safety bugs were reported in Firefox 54. Some of these bugs showed evidence of memory corruption and we presume that with enough effort that some of these could be exploited to run arbitrary code. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 55.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/06/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2017-7780 represents a critical memory safety issue within the Mozilla Firefox web browser version 54 and earlier. This flaw stems from multiple memory corruption vulnerabilities that were discovered in the browser's rendering engine and memory management systems. The reported bugs indicate that Firefox developers identified several instances where memory operations could lead to unpredictable behavior, potentially allowing attackers to manipulate memory locations in ways that could compromise system integrity. These memory safety issues are particularly concerning because they exist within the core browser functionality that processes web content, making them prime targets for exploitation in real-world attack scenarios.
The technical nature of these memory safety bugs aligns with common weakness patterns documented in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, specifically CWE-119 which covers "Improper Access to Memory" and CWE-787 which addresses "Out-of-bounds Write." The vulnerabilities manifest as memory corruption issues that occur when Firefox processes certain web content, particularly involving complex JavaScript operations, DOM manipulations, or multimedia elements. The flaw demonstrates how improper memory handling can create opportunities for attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. These bugs typically arise from insufficient bounds checking, improper memory allocation, or incorrect pointer management within the browser's codebase, creating potential entry points for malicious actors to gain unauthorized control over user systems.
The operational impact of CVE-2017-7780 extends beyond simple browser instability, as the potential for arbitrary code execution represents a severe security risk that could enable attackers to perform a wide range of malicious activities. An attacker could leverage these vulnerabilities to install malware, steal sensitive data, perform man-in-the-middle attacks, or establish persistent backdoors on compromised systems. The attack surface is particularly broad since the vulnerabilities are present in the browser's core processing capabilities that handle all web content. From an adversarial perspective, these memory corruption issues align with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the 'Exploitation for Client Execution' tactic, where adversaries target application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code in the context of the victim's browser session.
Organizations and individuals should prioritize immediate mitigation through Firefox version 55 or later, which contains patches addressing these memory safety vulnerabilities. The recommended approach involves implementing automated update mechanisms and maintaining strict browser version controls within enterprise environments. Security teams should also consider deploying network monitoring solutions to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish incident response procedures for handling potential compromise scenarios. Additional mitigations include implementing content security policies, using sandboxing technologies, and maintaining regular security assessments of browser configurations. The vulnerability underscores the importance of keeping browser software updated and demonstrates how memory safety issues can create persistent security risks that require ongoing vigilance and proactive security measures to prevent exploitation.