CVE-2024-5700 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE • 06/11/2024
Memory safety bugs present in Firefox 126, Firefox ESR 115.11, and Thunderbird 115.11. Some of these bugs showed evidence of memory corruption and we presume that with enough effort some of these could have been exploited to run arbitrary code. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 127 and Firefox ESR < 115.12.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical memory safety issue affecting Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird applications across multiple versions. The memory safety bugs identified in Firefox 126, Firefox ESR 115.11, and Thunderbird 115.11 demonstrate the inherent risks associated with complex browser software where memory corruption can occur through various code paths. These vulnerabilities are particularly concerning because they manifest as memory safety issues that could potentially lead to arbitrary code execution, making them attractive targets for malicious actors seeking to exploit web browsers for unauthorized access or system compromise.
The technical nature of these memory safety bugs indicates that the applications contain memory corruption vulnerabilities that could be leveraged by attackers to manipulate program execution flow. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from improper memory management practices including buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory handling errors that occur during normal application operation. The presence of evidence suggesting memory corruption demonstrates that these bugs can cause unpredictable behavior in the application's memory management systems, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or inject malicious code into the running process.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability to potential system compromise. When memory safety bugs are present in web browsers, they create attack surfaces that can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious websites, email attachments, or compromised web content. The vulnerability affects Firefox versions prior to 127 and Firefox ESR versions prior to 115.12, indicating that a significant portion of deployed browser installations could be at risk. This represents a substantial exposure for organizations and individuals who have not yet updated their browser software, particularly in enterprise environments where software deployment cycles may be slower.
The security implications of these memory safety bugs align with common attack patterns documented in the attack technique frameworks, where memory corruption vulnerabilities are frequently exploited through techniques such as heap spraying or return-oriented programming to achieve code execution. From a CWE perspective, these issues likely map to categories such as CWE-121, CWE-122, or CWE-125, which address heap-based buffer overflows and memory corruption issues. The vulnerability classification suggests that attackers could potentially leverage these issues to bypass modern security protections including address space layout randomization and data execution prevention mechanisms through sophisticated exploitation techniques.
Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of patches for Firefox 127 and Firefox ESR 115.12 releases to address these memory safety concerns. System administrators should implement comprehensive monitoring for potential exploitation attempts and ensure that all browser installations are updated to versions that contain the necessary memory safety fixes. Additionally, network security controls should be enhanced to detect and block suspicious web traffic that might attempt to exploit these vulnerabilities, particularly in environments where immediate patch deployment is not immediately feasible. The remediation process should include verification that all affected systems have been properly updated and that no legacy installations remain vulnerable to these memory corruption issues.