Mozilla Firefox and Could Allow for Arbitrary Code Execution

Fortify Security Team
Oct 6, 2021

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Mozilla Firefox and Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR), the most severe of which could allow for arbitrary code execution. Mozilla Firefox is a web browser used to access the Internet. Mozilla Firefox ESR is a version of the web browser intended to be deployed in large organizations. Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow for arbitrary code execution. Depending on the privileges associated with the user an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights.

THREAT INTELLIGENCE: There are currently no reports of these vulnerabilities being exploited in the wild.

SYSTEMS AFFECTED:

  • Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 93
  • Firefox ESR versions prior to 78.15
  • Firefox ESR versions prior to 91.2

RISK:
Government:

  • Large and medium government entities: High
  • Small government entities: High

Businesses:

  • Large and medium business entities: High
  • Small business entities: High

Home users: Low

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:

Multiple vulnerabilities have been discovered in Mozilla Firefox and Firefox Extended Support Release (ESR), the most severe of which could allow for arbitrary code execution. Details of these vulnerabilities are as follows:

  • Use-after-free in MessageTask (CVE-2021-38496)
  • Validation message could have been overlaid on another origin (CVE-2021-38497)
  • Use-after-free of nsLanguageAtomService object (CVE-2021-38498)
  • Data race in crossbeam-deque (CVE-2021-32810)
  • Memory safety bugs fixed in Firefox 93, Firefox ESR 78.15, and Firefox ESR 91.2 (CVE-2021-38499, CVE-2021-38500, CVE-2021-38501)

Successful exploitation of these vulnerabilities could allow for arbitrary code execution. Depending on the privileges associated with the user an attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than those who operate with administrative user rights.

RECOMMENDATIONS:

We recommend the following actions be taken:

  • Apply appropriate updates provided by Mozilla to vulnerable systems immediately after appropriate testing.
  • Run all software as a non-privileged user (one without administrative privileges) to diminish the effects of a successful attack.
  • Remind users not to visit un-trusted websites or follow links provided by unknown or un-trusted sources.
  • Inform and educate users regarding the threats posed by hypertext links contained in emails or attachments especially from un-trusted sources.
  • Apply the Principle of Least Privilege to all systems and services.

REFERENCES:

Mozilla:
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/mfsa2021-43/
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/mfsa2021-44/
https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/mfsa2021-45/

CVE:

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-32810

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-38496

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-38497

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-38498

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-38499

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-38500

https://cve.mitre.org/cgi-bin/cvename.cgi?name=CVE-2021-38501

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