CVE-2018-5094 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A heap buffer overflow vulnerability in WebAssembly affecting Firefox versions less than 58.

Understanding CVE-2018-5094

What is CVE-2018-5094?

A heap buffer overflow vulnerability in WebAssembly can lead to a potentially exploitable crash in Firefox versions below 58.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5094

The vulnerability may allow attackers to exploit uninitialized memory, potentially causing a crash in the browser.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5094

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises in WebAssembly when calling "shrinkElements" followed by garbage collection on uninitialized memory, leading to a crash that could be exploited.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Firefox
Vendor: Mozilla
Versions Affected: < 58

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability occurs due to a heap buffer overflow in WebAssembly, triggered by specific actions on uninitialized memory.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Firefox to version 58 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor security advisories from Mozilla for any patches or updates.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to prevent buffer overflow vulnerabilities.
Conduct regular security audits and code reviews to identify and address potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Mozilla promptly to address known vulnerabilities.