CVE-2024-4765 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE • 05/14/2024
Web application manifests were stored by using an insecure MD5 hash which allowed for a hash collision to overwrite another application's manifest. This could have been exploited to run arbitrary code in another application's context. *This issue only affects Firefox for Android. Other versions of Firefox are unaffected.* This vulnerability affects Firefox < 126.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/30/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-4765 represents a critical security flaw in Firefox for Android versions prior to 126, where web application manifests are stored using an insecure MD5 hash algorithm. This weakness creates a fundamental flaw in the application's integrity verification mechanism, as MD5 is known to be cryptographically broken and susceptible to collision attacks. The vulnerability specifically targets the manifest storage system that Firefox uses to manage web applications, which are essentially packaged web pages with associated metadata that define how applications appear and behave within the browser environment.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability stems from the predictable nature of MD5 collisions, where an attacker can generate two different files that produce identical MD5 hash values. In this case, the attacker could craft a malicious manifest file that collides with an existing legitimate manifest, allowing them to overwrite the legitimate application's manifest with malicious content. This collision attack directly violates the principle of data integrity and allows for privilege escalation within the context of the affected web application. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-327, which specifically addresses the use of weak cryptographic algorithms, and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution through web-based attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple manifest overwrites, as it enables arbitrary code execution within another application's security context. When a malicious manifest replaces a legitimate one, any subsequent access to that application could trigger the execution of attacker-controlled code, potentially leading to full compromise of the user's browsing session. This risk is particularly severe in mobile environments where applications may have elevated privileges or access to sensitive user data. The vulnerability affects only Firefox for Android, indicating a platform-specific implementation flaw in how the mobile browser handles web application manifest storage, while desktop versions remain unaffected due to different implementation approaches.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-4765 require immediate action to update Firefox for Android to version 126 or later, which addresses the insecure MD5 usage by implementing stronger cryptographic hashing algorithms. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level monitoring to detect suspicious manifest file modifications or unusual application behavior patterns. The fix likely involves replacing MD5 with SHA-256 or higher cryptographic hash functions, ensuring that the collision resistance properties are sufficient to prevent exploitation. Additionally, users should be educated about the importance of keeping their browsers updated and should avoid installing untrusted web applications that might exploit such vulnerabilities. Security teams should monitor for any related attacks targeting this specific weakness and consider implementing application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized manifest files. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of cryptographic algorithm selection and proper implementation practices in security-sensitive applications, particularly in mobile environments where the attack surface is often more constrained and potentially more dangerous.