CVE-2018-5103 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability known as use-after-free during mouse event handling affects Thunderbird, Firefox ESR, and Firefox versions prior to specified versions.

Understanding CVE-2018-5103

This CVE involves a use-after-free vulnerability that can lead to a crash during mouse event processing.

What is CVE-2018-5103?

The vulnerability arises from issues with multiprocess support, potentially allowing malicious exploitation through a crash. It impacts Thunderbird versions before 52.6, Firefox ESR versions before 52.6, and Firefox versions before 58.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5103

The vulnerability could be exploited for malicious purposes, causing crashes in affected applications.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5103

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

A use-after-free vulnerability occurs during mouse event handling due to problems with multiprocess support, leading to a potentially exploitable crash.

Affected Systems and Versions

Thunderbird versions prior to 52.6
Firefox ESR versions prior to 52.6
Firefox versions prior to 58

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by triggering specific mouse events, taking advantage of the use-after-free condition.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent the CVE-2018-5103 vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Thunderbird, Firefox ESR, and Firefox to versions 52.6 and 58, respectively.
Monitor for any unusual activities on the affected systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement security measures to prevent unauthorized access to systems.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Mozilla for Thunderbird, Firefox ESR, and Firefox to mitigate the vulnerability.