CVE-2018-18505 : What You Need to Know
Learn about CVE-2018-18505 affecting Thunderbird, Firefox ESR, and Firefox, leading to sandbox escape through IPC channels. Find mitigation steps and update recommendations here.
CVE-2018-18505 was published on February 5, 2019, by Mozilla. The vulnerability affects Thunderbird, Firefox ESR, and Firefox, potentially leading to privilege escalation through IPC channel messages.
Understanding CVE-2018-18505
CVE-2018-18505 is a security vulnerability that impacts Thunderbird, Firefox ESR, and Firefox, allowing for sandbox escape through IPC channels due to inadequate message validation.
What is CVE-2018-18505?
The vulnerability arises from insufficient authentication for channels created after the IPC process starts, potentially enabling privilege escalation through IPC channel messages.
The Impact of CVE-2018-18505
The vulnerability poses a risk of sandbox escape through IPC channels, as the listener process lacks proper message validation, affecting Thunderbird versions older than 60.5, Firefox ESR versions earlier than 60.5, and Firefox versions below 65.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-18505
CVE-2018-18505 involves the following technical aspects:
Vulnerability Description
An earlier fix for an Inter-process Communication (IPC) vulnerability introduced insufficient authentication for channels created after the IPC process starts, potentially leading to privilege escalation through IPC channel messages.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Thunderbird versions older than 60.5
- Firefox ESR versions earlier than 60.5
- Firefox versions below 65
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability allows for sandbox escape through IPC channels due to the lack of proper message validation in the listener process.
Mitigation and Prevention
To address CVE-2018-18505, consider the following steps:
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Thunderbird, Firefox ESR, and Firefox to versions 60.5 and above.
- Monitor vendor advisories for patches and security updates.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Implement regular security updates for all software components.
- Conduct security assessments to identify and mitigate vulnerabilities.
Patching and Updates
- Apply patches provided by Mozilla and other relevant vendors promptly to address the vulnerability.