CVE-2024-10459 in Thunderbird
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2024
An attacker could have caused a use-after-free when accessibility was enabled, leading to a potentially exploitable crash. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 132, Firefox ESR < 128.4, Firefox ESR < 115.17, Thunderbird < 128.4, and Thunderbird < 132.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition that emerges when accessibility features are enabled within Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird applications. The flaw occurs in the memory management subsystem where freed memory blocks are still being referenced after the original allocation has been released. Such conditions create opportunities for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code by manipulating the program's memory state during the window between object deallocation and subsequent reuse. The vulnerability specifically impacts versions prior to Firefox 132 and its extended support releases, as well as Thunderbird versions below 128.4 and 132, making it a widespread concern across multiple Mozilla products.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of accessibility object references within the browser's rendering and interaction frameworks. When accessibility services are active, the application maintains references to various UI elements and their associated memory structures. The flaw manifests when these references are not properly invalidated or cleared upon object destruction, allowing subsequent operations to access memory that has already been freed. This memory corruption scenario creates a potential code execution vector that aligns with common exploit techniques described in the attack framework. The use-after-free condition is particularly dangerous because it can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations with attacker-controlled data, potentially leading to privilege escalation or complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability, as it represents a significant security risk that could be exploited in targeted attacks. Attackers could potentially craft malicious web content or manipulate accessibility features to trigger the memory corruption, leading to remote code execution on vulnerable systems. This vulnerability affects both desktop browsers and email clients, increasing the attack surface significantly. Organizations running affected versions of Firefox or Thunderbird face potential exposure to sophisticated attacks that could result in data breaches, system compromise, or lateral movement within network environments. The vulnerability's presence in extended support releases indicates a prolonged risk period that requires immediate attention from security teams and system administrators.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate deployment of patched versions across all affected systems, as this vulnerability represents a high-severity risk that could be actively exploited in the wild. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and establish patch management procedures to ensure rapid deployment of security updates. Organizations should also consider disabling accessibility features temporarily if immediate patching is not feasible, though this represents a temporary workaround rather than a permanent solution. The vulnerability aligns with attack patterns documented in the attack framework where memory corruption issues are commonly leveraged for privilege escalation, making comprehensive patching essential for maintaining security posture. System administrators should also review access controls and network segmentation to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.