CVE-2024-5702 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE • 06/11/2024
Memory corruption in the networking stack could have led to a potentially exploitable crash. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 125 and Firefox ESR < 115.12.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/18/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-5702 represents a critical memory corruption issue within the networking stack of Mozilla Firefox browsers. This flaw exists in versions prior to Firefox 125 and Firefox ESR 115.12, creating a potential pathway for attackers to exploit memory handling mechanisms during network operations. The vulnerability stems from improper memory management during network protocol processing, which could result in arbitrary code execution or system instability when malicious network traffic is processed by the affected browser versions.
Memory corruption vulnerabilities of this nature typically arise from buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or improper memory allocation handling within the network processing components. The networking stack in Firefox handles various protocols including http https and websocket communications, making it a prime target for exploitation. When processing malformed network data, the vulnerable code paths can lead to memory corruption that may be leveraged to execute malicious code with the privileges of the browser process. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-122 category for buffer overflow and CWE-476 for null pointer dereference, depending on the specific implementation flaw.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-5702 extends beyond simple browser crashes, as it provides potential attackers with a means to gain unauthorized access to affected systems. When exploited, this vulnerability could enable remote code execution, allowing attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that web browsers are frequently targeted due to their privileged position in executing code from untrusted sources. Network traffic processing is inherently complex and presents numerous potential attack vectors, making this memory corruption issue particularly dangerous in real-world scenarios.
Organizations and users should immediately update to Firefox version 125 or Firefox ESR 115.12 to mitigate this vulnerability. The remediation process involves standard browser update procedures but requires urgent attention given the potential for exploitation. Security teams should also implement network monitoring to detect unusual traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additional mitigations include implementing browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary network protocols, using network segmentation, and deploying intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter and T1566.001 for spearphishing attachments, as attackers may leverage this vulnerability to execute malicious code through browser-based attacks. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of affected software within the organization's infrastructure.