CVE-2024-0748 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE • 01/23/2024
A compromised content process could have updated the document URI. This could have allowed an attacker to set an arbitrary URI in the address bar or history. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 122.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/12/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw in the Firefox web browser that could enable attackers to manipulate the document URI within compromised content processes. The issue arises from insufficient validation mechanisms that allow malicious code running within a content process to modify the document URI, potentially leading to address bar spoofing or history manipulation. The vulnerability specifically affects Firefox versions prior to 122, indicating that this was a targeted issue within a particular release cycle where proper isolation mechanisms between content processes and the browser's core URI handling were not adequately enforced. The flaw demonstrates a breakdown in the browser's security model where the boundaries between different security contexts can be crossed through improper URI handling within content processes.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from the way Firefox manages document URI updates when content processes are compromised. When a content process is compromised, typically through exploitation of a separate vulnerability such as a memory corruption issue, the attacker could leverage this flaw to modify the document URI that the browser displays in the address bar or records in browsing history. This represents a sophisticated attack vector that combines process compromise with URI manipulation, potentially enabling phishing attacks or other social engineering schemes where users might be misled about the actual destination of their navigation. The vulnerability directly relates to CWE-20, which addresses improper input validation, and CWE-22, which deals with path traversal issues, as the attacker essentially manipulates the path information that the browser uses to display and track navigation history.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple address bar manipulation, as it could enable sophisticated attack scenarios including credential theft through phishing, malicious redirection attacks, or the creation of false browsing history that could be used to mislead users or security analysts during forensic investigations. An attacker could potentially craft malicious web content that, when loaded in a compromised browser process, would redirect the browser's URI display to a malicious domain while maintaining the appearance of legitimate navigation. This type of attack could be particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users might be tricked into believing they are navigating to trusted internal resources while actually being directed to attacker-controlled domains. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1566 for phishing, as it enables more sophisticated social engineering attacks by providing the capability to manipulate the browser's user interface in ways that could deceive users into trusting malicious content.
The mitigation for this vulnerability requires immediate upgrading to Firefox version 122 or later, where proper isolation mechanisms between content processes and URI handling have been implemented. Security researchers should also consider implementing additional monitoring for unusual URI changes in browser processes, particularly when such changes occur in conjunction with other suspicious activities or when they involve known malicious domains. Organizations should review their browser security policies to ensure that all users are running patched versions of Firefox and consider implementing additional security measures such as content security policies and strict browser hardening configurations. The vulnerability highlights the importance of maintaining proper process isolation and input validation in browser security architectures, as well as the critical need for regular security updates to address emerging threats in complex software environments.