Mozilla Firefox Information Disclosure
CVE-2013-1675 is a medium-severity improper initialization vulnerability in Firefox from Mozilla, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 6.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. The record lists versions 21.0, 17.0.6 as the first without the flaw, so updating Firefox to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue on March 3, 2022, which means attacks have been observed in the wild.
Attackers are already exploiting this vulnerability, according to CISA.
What to do
- Update Firefox to 21.0 or 17.0.6, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Update Thunderbird to 17.0.6 or a later version.
- Update Thunderbird Esr to 17.0.6 or a later version.
- CISA's required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
- Read the advisory on mozilla.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
- Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.
- Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.
Affected products and versions
Version data comes from NVD's product matching. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- NetworkCan be exploited remotely over a network, including the internet.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- RequiredA user must take an action such as opening a file or link.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- NoneNothing can be modified.
- Availability
- NoneAvailability is not affected.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N. Scored by NVD.
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 3.1 | 6.5 | Medium | NVD |
| CVSS 3.1 | 6.5 | Medium | CISA (ADP) |
| CVSS 2.0 | 4.3 | Medium | NVD |
Official description
Mozilla Firefox before 21.0, Firefox ESR 17.x before 17.0.6, Thunderbird before 17.0.6, and Thunderbird ESR 17.x before 17.0.6 do not properly initialize data structures for the nsDOMSVGZoomEvent::mPreviousScale and nsDOMSVGZoomEvent::mNewScale functions, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information from process memory via a crafted web site.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Initialization
The product does not initialize or incorrectly initializes a resource.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Use a language that does not allow this weakness to occur or provides constructs that make this weakness easier to avoid. For example, in Java, if the programmer does not explicitly initialize a variable, then the code could produce a compile-time error (if the variable is local) or automatically initialize the variable to the default value for the variable's type. In Perl, if explicit initialization is not performed, then a default value of undef is assigned, which is interpreted as 0, false, or an equivalent value depending on the context in which the variable is accessed.
- Identify all variables and data stores that receive information from external sources, and apply input validation to make sure that they are only initialized to expected values.
- Explicitly initialize all your variables and other data stores, either during declaration or just before the first usage.
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- Added to CISA's Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalogue.
- Deadline for US federal agencies to remediate, set by CISA.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: active, automatable: no, technical impact: partial).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Third-party and government advisories
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-05/msg00010.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-05/msg00011.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-05/msg00012.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-06/msg00006.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2013-06/msg00008.htmlMailing List, Third Party Advisory
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0820.htmlThird Party Advisory
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2013-0821.htmlThird Party Advisory
- ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1822-1Third Party Advisory
- ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1823-1Third Party Advisory
- cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2013-1675US Government Resource
Technical write-ups (may include proof of concept)
- bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=866825Exploit, Issue Tracking
Other references
- debian.org/security/2013/dsa-2699Mailing List
Other vulnerabilities in Firefox
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 8.8 High severity
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