CVE-2018-12379 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A vulnerability in Mozilla products could allow an attacker to trigger an out-of-bounds write by opening a malicious MAR file with an excessively long item filename.

Understanding CVE-2018-12379

This CVE affects Firefox, Firefox ESR, and Thunderbird products from Mozilla.

What is CVE-2018-12379?

When the Mozilla Updater opens a MAR format file with a very long item filename, it can lead to an out-of-bounds write, potentially causing a crash. The vulnerability requires manual execution of the Mozilla Updater with the malicious MAR file.

The Impact of CVE-2018-12379

The vulnerability could result in a crash that may be exploited by an attacker. It affects Firefox versions before 62, Firefox ESR versions before 60.2, and Thunderbird versions before 60.2.1.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-12379

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows for an out-of-bounds write when opening a MAR file with an excessively long item filename using the Mozilla Updater.

Affected Systems and Versions

Firefox versions before 62
Firefox ESR versions before 60.2
Thunderbird versions before 60.2.1

Exploitation Mechanism

To exploit this vulnerability, the Mozilla Updater needs to be manually executed on the local system with a malicious MAR file.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2018-12379 with the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Firefox, Firefox ESR, and Thunderbird to versions 62, 60.2, and 60.2.1 respectively.
Avoid opening MAR files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update your Mozilla products to the latest versions.
Exercise caution when downloading and opening files from unknown or untrusted sources.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Mozilla and apply patches promptly to address known vulnerabilities.