CVE-2018-5091 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A use-after-free vulnerability in WebRTC connections involving DTMF timers can lead to exploitable crashes in Firefox ESR versions prior to 52.6 and Firefox versions prior to 58.

Understanding CVE-2018-5091

What is CVE-2018-5091?

This CVE refers to a use-after-free vulnerability that arises during WebRTC connections when interacting with DTMF timers, potentially resulting in exploitable crashes.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5091

The vulnerability affects users of Firefox ESR versions earlier than 52.6 and Firefox versions earlier than 58, exposing them to the risk of crashes that could be exploited by malicious actors.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5091

Vulnerability Description

Use-after-free vulnerability in WebRTC connections with DTMF timers

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: Firefox ESR, Firefox
Vendor: Mozilla
Vulnerable Versions:
Firefox ESR: < 52.6
Firefox: < 58

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploitation occurs when handling WebRTC connections and DTMF timers, leading to a use-after-free scenario that can result in a crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Firefox ESR to version 52.6 or later
Update Firefox to version 58 or later
Consider using alternative browsers until the patch is applied

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update browsers and software to the latest versions
Implement secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities

Patching and Updates

Apply the latest security patches provided by Mozilla to address this vulnerability