CyberSecBulletin
CVE-2024-0743NVD status: Modified

Firefox: Unchecked Return Value

CVE-2024-0743 is a high-severity unchecked return value vulnerability in Firefox from Mozilla, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.5 out of 10. It can be exploited remotely over the network by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists version 122 as the first without the flaw, so updating Firefox to that release or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 1.29% chance of exploitation within 30 days, higher than 71% of scored CVEs.

Next patch cycle

High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.

What to do

  1. Update Firefox to 122 or a later version.
  2. Update Firefox ESR to 115.9 or a later version.
  3. Update Thunderbird to 115.9 or a later version.
  4. Read the advisory on mozilla.org for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
  5. Until you can update, restrict network access to the affected service so it is not reachable from untrusted networks.

Affected products and versions

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed in
MozillaFirefoxbefore 122122
MozillaFirefox ESRbefore 115.9115.9
MozillaThunderbirdbefore 115.9115.9

Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. 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
NoneNo action by a victim is required.
Scope
UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
Confidentiality
NoneNo data is disclosed.
Integrity
NoneNothing can be modified.
Availability
HighThe component can be taken down completely.

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H. Scored by NVD.

Scoring systemScoreSeverityScored by
CVSS 3.17.5HighNVD
CVSS 3.17.5HighCISA (ADP)

Official description

An unchecked return value in TLS handshake code could have caused a potentially exploitable crash. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 122, Firefox ESR < 115.9, and Thunderbird < 115.9.

Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.

The underlying weakness: Unchecked Return Value

The product does not check the return value from a method or function.

How developers prevent this class of flaw

  • Check the results of all functions that return a value and verify that the value is expected.
  • For any pointers that could have been modified or provided from a function that can return NULL, check the pointer for NULL before use. When working with a multithreaded or otherwise asynchronous environment, ensure that proper locking APIs are used to lock before the check, and unlock when it has finished.
  • Ensure that you account for all possible return values from the function.

More Unchecked Return Value vulnerabilities (CWE-252)

Timeline

  1. CVE record published.
  2. CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: yes, technical impact: partial).
  3. Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).

References

Other vulnerabilities in Firefox

All Firefox vulnerabilities

Recent Unchecked Return Value vulnerabilities

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