CVE-2024-9680 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE • 10/09/2024
An attacker was able to achieve code execution in the content process by exploiting a use-after-free in Animation timelines. We have had reports of this vulnerability being exploited in the wild. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 131.0.2, Firefox ESR < 128.3.1, and Firefox ESR < 115.16.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/29/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free condition within Firefox's animation timeline processing subsystem that allows remote code execution in the content process. The flaw occurs when the browser handles animation timelines, specifically during memory management operations where freed memory is accessed after being deallocated. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-416 which categorizes use-after-free errors as a serious class of memory safety issues. The exploitation of this vulnerability has been confirmed in the wild, indicating that threat actors have developed working exploits that target the specific memory corruption pattern present in the animation timeline handling code.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the browser's rendering engine encountering animation timeline objects that are improperly managed during garbage collection cycles. When animation timeline objects are destroyed and their memory is freed, subsequent operations attempt to access this already-released memory region, leading to a state where attacker-controlled data can overwrite critical memory locations. This memory corruption ultimately allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the content process context, which operates with limited privileges but can still be leveraged for further attacks. The vulnerability affects multiple Firefox versions including Firefox 131.0.2 and below, Firefox ESR 128.3.1 and below, and Firefox ESR 115.16.1 and below, indicating a widespread impact across both regular and extended support release channels.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it provides attackers with a foothold within the browser's sandboxed content process. This allows for potential escalation to more severe attacks including privilege escalation, data exfiltration, and persistent access to the target system. The use-after-free nature means that the vulnerability can be exploited through various attack vectors including malicious web pages, compromised websites, or phishing campaigns that trigger animation timeline processing. Attackers can craft specific web content that, when rendered by Firefox, triggers the memory corruption condition and subsequently executes malicious payloads. The fact that this vulnerability has been exploited in the wild demonstrates that the attack surface is actively being targeted by threat actors, making immediate remediation essential.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability include immediate patching of affected Firefox versions to the latest releases that contain memory safety fixes. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected browsers to versions 131.0.2, 128.3.1, or 115.16.1 respectively, depending on their Firefox channel. Additional defensive measures include implementing content security policies that restrict animation timeline usage, employing browser hardening techniques, and monitoring for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which covers scripting through web-based attacks, and T1547.001 related to registry run keys and startup folder modifications that could follow successful exploitation. Security teams should also consider deploying web application firewalls and implementing browser isolation techniques to limit the potential impact of such vulnerabilities in enterprise environments.