Mozilla Firefox 44 HTML5 String Parser nsHtml5TreeBuilder use after free

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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7.7$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability identified as critical has been detected in Mozilla Firefox 44. The impacted element is the function nsHtml5TreeBuilder of the component HTML5 String Parser. The manipulation leads to use after free. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2016-1960. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. Furthermore, there is an exploit available. You should upgrade the affected component.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as critical, has been found in Mozilla Firefox 44 (Web Browser). This issue affects the function nsHtml5TreeBuilder of the component HTML5 String Parser. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a use after free vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-416. Referencing memory after it has been freed can cause a program to crash, use unexpected values, or execute code. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The weakness was shared 03/08/2016 as MFSA 2016-23 as confirmed security advisory (Website). The advisory is shared at mozilla.org. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2016-1960 since 01/20/2016. The exploitation is known to be easy. The attack may be initiated remotely. No form of authentication is needed for a successful exploitation. Technical details as well as a public exploit are known.

A public exploit has been developed by Hans Jerry Illikainen in HTML/Javascript and been published 2 years after the advisory. The exploit is available at exploit-db.com. It is declared as proof-of-concept. We expect the 0-day to have been worth approximately $25k-$100k. The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 89763 (CentOS 5 / 6 / 7 : firefox (CESA-2016:0373)), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment. It is assigned to the family CentOS Local Security Checks. The commercial vulnerability scanner Qualys is able to test this issue with plugin 196453 (Ubuntu Security Notification for Thunderbird Vulnerabilities (USN-2934-1)).

Upgrading eliminates this vulnerability. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at X-Force (111330), Exploit-DB (42484), Tenable (89763) and Vulnerability Center (SBV-57118†). The entries VDB-81201, VDB-81203, VDB-81206 and VDB-81207 are related to this item. Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

Productinfo

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Website

CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 8.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 7.7

VulDB Base Score: 7.3
VulDB Temp Score: 6.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 8.8
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Class: Use after free
CWE: CWE-416 / CWE-119
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Access: Public
Status: Proof-of-Concept
Author: Hans Jerry Illikainen
Programming Language: 🔍
Download: 🔍

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 89763
Nessus Name: CentOS 5 / 6 / 7 : firefox (CESA-2016:0373)
Nessus File: 🔍
Nessus Risk: 🔍
Nessus Family: 🔍

OpenVAS ID: 703510
OpenVAS Name: Debian Security Advisory DSA 3510-1 (iceweasel - security update)
OpenVAS File: 🔍
OpenVAS Family: 🔍

Qualys ID: 🔍
Qualys Name: 🔍

Exploit-DB: 🔍

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍

Reaction Time: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔍
Exposure Time: 🔍
Exploit Delay Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

01/20/2016 🔍
03/08/2016 +48 days 🔍
03/08/2016 +0 days 🔍
03/08/2016 +0 days 🔍
03/09/2016 +1 days 🔍
03/09/2016 +0 days 🔍
03/13/2016 +4 days 🔍
08/18/2017 +523 days 🔍
08/18/2017 +0 days 🔍
05/26/2025 +2838 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: mozilla.org
Product: mozilla.org

Advisory: MFSA 2016-23
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2016-1960 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2016-1960
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-81209

OVAL: 🔍

X-Force: 111330 - Mozilla Firefox HTML5 string parser code execution
SecurityTracker: 1035215
Vulnerability Center: 57118 - Mozilla Firefox <45 and <ESR 38.7 Remote Code Execution in HTML5 String Parser - CVE-2016-1960, Critical

scip Labs: https://www.scip.ch/en/?labs.20161013
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 03/09/2016 10:04
Updated: 05/26/2025 08:11
Changes: 03/09/2016 10:04 (52), 08/20/2017 21:21 (29), 07/09/2022 11:54 (3), 07/09/2022 12:01 (11), 07/09/2022 12:09 (1), 05/26/2025 08:11 (14)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.

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