CVE-2024-10464 in Thunderbird
Summary
by MITRE • 10/29/2024
Repeated writes to history interface attributes could have been used to cause a Denial of Service condition in the browser. This was addressed by introducing rate-limiting to this API. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 132, Firefox ESR < 128.4, Thunderbird < 128.4, and Thunderbird < 132.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/02/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-10464 represents a denial of service condition that could be exploited through repeated writes to history interface attributes within web browser environments. This flaw specifically targeted the browser's handling of history data through the browser's Application Programming Interface, where excessive manipulation of history attributes could potentially overwhelm system resources and disrupt normal browser operations. The vulnerability was particularly concerning as it affected widely used browser applications including Firefox and Thunderbird across multiple versions, creating a significant risk for users who relied on these applications for daily operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stemmed from insufficient rate limiting mechanisms within the browser's history interface API. When applications or malicious code repeatedly wrote to history attributes, the browser lacked adequate controls to prevent excessive resource consumption. This type of flaw falls under the category of improper resource management as classified by CWE-772, where the system fails to properly control resource consumption leading to potential denial of service conditions. The absence of rate limiting allowed for continuous write operations that could accumulate and eventually exhaust available memory or processing capacity, resulting in browser instability or complete termination of browser processes.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extended beyond simple browser disruption, as it could be exploited by malicious actors to create persistent service interruptions for affected users. Attackers could craft scripts or applications that continuously manipulated history attributes to trigger the denial of service condition, potentially affecting user productivity and system availability. The vulnerability's scope was particularly broad given that it affected multiple versions of Firefox and Thunderbird, including both regular releases and extended support releases, meaning a substantial user base was potentially exposed to this risk. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1499.004, which involves resource exhaustion attacks that can be used to deny service to legitimate users.
The remediation approach implemented by the affected browser vendors involved introducing rate limiting controls to the history interface API. This solution directly addressed the root cause by establishing boundaries on how frequently history attributes could be modified within a given time period, thereby preventing the accumulation of excessive write operations that could lead to resource exhaustion. The fix required modifications to the browser's internal API handling mechanisms, ensuring that legitimate applications could continue to access history functionality while preventing abuse through excessive operations. This approach aligns with security best practices for preventing resource exhaustion attacks and demonstrates the importance of implementing proper rate limiting controls in browser APIs. The vulnerability affected versions prior to Firefox 132 and Firefox ESR 128.4, as well as Thunderbird versions 128.4 and 132, requiring users to upgrade to these patched versions to eliminate the risk of exploitation.