CVE-2017-5440 : What You Need to Know

An exploitable crash can occur due to a use-after-free vulnerability that arises during XSLT processing in Thunderbird, Firefox ESR, and Firefox.

Understanding CVE-2017-5440

A vulnerability in Thunderbird, Firefox ESR, and Firefox could lead to a potentially exploitable crash due to a use-after-free issue during XSLT processing.

What is CVE-2017-5440?

This CVE identifies a use-after-free vulnerability that occurs during XSLT processing, allowing objects to be used even after they have been deleted. The affected products include Thunderbird, Firefox ESR, and Firefox.

The Impact of CVE-2017-5440

The vulnerability could result in a crash during XSLT processing, potentially leading to exploitation by malicious actors.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-5440

A detailed look at the technical aspects of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is a use-after-free issue during XSLT processing, caused by a failure to propagate error conditions accurately, allowing objects to be used post-deletion.

Affected Systems and Versions

Thunderbird < 52.1
Firefox ESR < 45.9, < 52.1
Firefox < 53

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises during XSLT processing, where objects can still be accessed and utilized after deletion, potentially leading to a crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent the CVE-2017-5440 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Thunderbird to version 52.1 or higher
Update Firefox ESR to version 45.9 or 52.1 or higher
Update Firefox to version 53 or higher

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to the latest versions
Implement secure coding practices
Conduct regular security audits

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Mozilla to address the vulnerability