CVE-2019-9814 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE
Mozilla developers and community members reported memory safety bugs present in Firefox 66. 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 < 67.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/06/2024
Mozilla Firefox version 66 contained multiple memory safety vulnerabilities that were identified through community and developer reporting, with the specific vulnerability CVE-2019-9814 representing a critical concern for the browser's security posture. These memory safety bugs were particularly concerning because they demonstrated clear evidence of memory corruption, which is a fundamental class of vulnerabilities that can lead to arbitrary code execution when properly exploited. The vulnerability affects Firefox versions prior to 67, indicating that users running version 66 or earlier were exposed to potential exploitation risks. Memory corruption vulnerabilities typically arise from improper handling of memory allocation, deallocation, or access patterns within software applications, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow.
The technical nature of these memory safety bugs aligns with common CWE classifications such as CWE-122 Heap-based Buffer Overflow and CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, which are prevalent in browser environments where complex memory management occurs during rendering and script execution. These vulnerabilities represent a significant concern within the ATT&CK framework under the T1059 technique category, specifically targeting the execution of malicious code through compromised browser processes. The memory corruption exhibited in these bugs suggests that attackers could potentially manipulate heap memory structures or overwrite critical program data, leading to complete system compromise when exploited successfully. The fact that these issues were present in Firefox 66 indicates that they likely stemmed from complex interactions between JavaScript engine components, layout engines, and memory management systems that are integral to browser functionality.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-9814 extends beyond simple browser instability, as memory corruption vulnerabilities can enable attackers to bypass security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention. When exploited, these vulnerabilities could allow remote code execution in the context of the browser user, potentially leading to full system compromise through techniques such as privilege escalation or credential theft. The presence of multiple memory safety bugs within the same release cycle suggests either a systemic issue in the code review process or a complex interaction between various browser components that made these vulnerabilities difficult to detect during development. Organizations running Firefox 66 were particularly vulnerable as they lacked the security patches and mitigations introduced in version 67, making them prime targets for exploitation by threat actors who could leverage these memory corruption flaws to establish persistent access to affected systems.
The recommended mitigation strategy for CVE-2019-9814 involves immediate upgrade to Firefox version 67 or later, which includes patches specifically designed to address the identified memory safety issues. System administrators should also implement additional security controls such as browser hardening measures, network monitoring for suspicious activities, and user education regarding safe browsing practices. Security teams should consider deploying intrusion detection systems that can monitor for exploitation attempts targeting memory corruption vulnerabilities, as these attacks often exhibit specific patterns in network traffic or system behavior. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date software versions and implementing comprehensive vulnerability management processes that include regular security assessments and patch deployment procedures. Organizations should also consider implementing additional security layers such as sandboxing, content filtering, and application whitelisting to reduce the attack surface and limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.