CVE-2024-7530 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE • 08/06/2024
Incorrect garbage collection interaction could have led to a use-after-free. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 129.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-7530 represents a critical memory safety issue within the Firefox web browser that could potentially enable arbitrary code execution through improper garbage collection handling. This flaw specifically impacts Firefox versions prior to 129, where the browser's memory management system fails to properly coordinate between reference counting and garbage collection mechanisms. The interaction between these memory management components creates a scenario where objects may be prematurely freed while still being referenced, leading to a use-after-free condition that adversaries could exploit to execute malicious code.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability lies in the improper synchronization between Firefox's reference counting system and its garbage collection algorithms. When objects are managed through reference counting, the system tracks how many references point to each object and frees the object when the reference count reaches zero. However, in certain complex scenarios involving object lifecycle management and garbage collection cycles, the reference counting mechanism fails to properly account for all references, particularly when objects are part of complex object graphs or when cyclic references exist. This misalignment creates a window where an object can be freed by the garbage collector while reference counting still believes it should remain allocated, resulting in a situation where subsequent memory accesses to the freed object trigger undefined behavior.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway for privilege escalation and remote code execution. When an attacker can manipulate the conditions that lead to this use-after-free scenario, they may be able to control the memory layout and potentially redirect execution flow through controlled data corruption. The vulnerability's exploitation potential is particularly concerning given Firefox's widespread use and the browser's complex JavaScript engine which handles numerous object management scenarios. Attackers could leverage this flaw through malicious web content, potentially leading to full system compromise without requiring user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website.
Security researchers have classified this vulnerability according to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework as a weakness related to improper handling of object lifecycles and memory management coordination. The flaw aligns with attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the technique of code injection, specifically targeting memory corruption vulnerabilities that enable arbitrary code execution. Organizations and users should prioritize immediate remediation by updating to Firefox version 129 or later, which includes patches addressing the garbage collection interaction issues. Additionally, implementing network-level protections such as content security policies and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth layers while awaiting full patch deployment. The vulnerability underscores the critical importance of proper memory management coordination in modern web browsers and highlights the need for comprehensive testing of complex memory management interactions in software systems.