CVE-2018-5104 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

A use-after-free vulnerability during font face manipulation affects Thunderbird, Firefox ESR, and Firefox versions.

Understanding CVE-2018-5104

What is CVE-2018-5104?

A potential security issue arises during font face manipulation, leading to a crash that can be exploited. Affected versions include Thunderbird < 52.6, Firefox ESR < 52.6, and Firefox < 58.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5104

The vulnerability can result in a use-after-free scenario during font face manipulation, potentially leading to exploitable crashes.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5104

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability occurs when a font face is freed while still in use, causing a potentially exploitable crash.

Affected Systems and Versions

Thunderbird < 52.6
Firefox ESR < 52.6
Firefox < 58

Exploitation Mechanism

The issue arises when manipulating font faces, specifically when a font face is released while still in use, leading to a crash susceptible to exploitation.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Thunderbird, Firefox ESR, and Firefox to versions 52.6 and 58 or higher, respectively.
Avoid opening untrusted documents or visiting malicious websites.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to the latest versions.
Implement proper security measures to prevent unauthorized access.

Patching and Updates

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