CVE-2026-92032 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
Sandbox escape due to invalid pointer in the Graphics component. This vulnerability was fixed in Firefox 156, Firefox ESR 140.16, and Firefox ESR 153.3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
The identified security flaw resides within the graphics subsystem of Mozilla Firefox, specifically involving an invalid pointer dereference that facilitates a sandbox escape. This type of vulnerability is critical because it allows malicious content to break out of the restricted execution environment designed to contain potentially harmful code. In modern web browsers, the rendering engine operates in a multi-process architecture where different components run with varying levels of privilege. The graphics component typically handles low-level operations such as GPU acceleration and memory management for visual elements. When an invalid pointer is accessed within this context, it indicates that the software failed to properly validate memory addresses before attempting to read from or write to them. This lack of rigorous input validation creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate program flow or access sensitive data structures outside their intended scope.
From a technical perspective, this issue aligns with CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer and potentially CWE-476 NULL Pointer Dereference if the invalid pointer results in accessing null memory regions that trigger exploitable conditions. The core mechanism involves the graphics engine receiving malformed or crafted input from web content, such as specific CSS properties, SVG elements, or WebGL commands. Instead of rejecting this input safely, the application proceeds to use an uninitialized or corrupted pointer value. This can lead to arbitrary code execution if the attacker can control what data is written to the memory location pointed to by the invalid address. The severity lies in the fact that sandbox escapes bypass many standard security mitigations like DEP and ASLR protections applied at the browser level, effectively granting the attacker full system-level access under the context of the user running the browser.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for end-users who encounter maliciously crafted web pages or compromised websites hosting exploit code. An adversary could leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary commands on the victim's machine, install malware, steal sensitive information such as cookies and session tokens, or pivot into internal network resources if the browser has access to them. Since graphics processing is ubiquitous in modern browsing experiences involving video playback, 3D rendering, and complex animations, the attack surface is broad. Users visiting legitimate but compromised sites could be silently exploited without any interaction beyond loading the page. This underscores the importance of timely patching as browsers are among the most frequently targeted applications for remote code execution attacks.
Mitigation strategies primarily involve applying the vendor-provided updates that address this specific memory safety issue. For organizations managing large fleets, deploying Firefox version 156 or later, including ESR versions 140.16 and 153.3, is essential to close this gap. Additionally, users should ensure their operating systems are up to date as defense-in-depth measures may provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts. Security teams can also monitor for indicators of compromise related to unusual memory access patterns or unexpected process spawns originating from browser processes. While no technical workaround exists other than updating the software, maintaining strict content security policies and restricting script execution on untrusted domains can reduce the likelihood of triggering such vulnerabilities in legacy systems that cannot be immediately patched.
This incident highlights the ongoing challenges in managing complex codebases where low-level memory management intersects with high-level web standards compliance. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this behavior under T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, emphasizing how attackers utilize software flaws to gain initial access and establish persistence on target systems. Continuous integration of fuzzing tools during development phases can help identify such pointer errors before they reach production releases. Furthermore, adopting memory-safe languages or rigorous static analysis techniques in the graphics module could prevent similar issues from arising in future versions. The resolution through version updates demonstrates the vendor's commitment to maintaining security integrity across their product line, ensuring that critical infrastructure components like browser engines remain resilient against evolving threat landscapes.