CVE-2018-5113 : Security Advisory and Response

CVE-2018-5113, a vulnerability affecting Firefox versions prior to 58, allows the loading of privileged pages by extensions due to a lack of proper enforcement of content loading restrictions.

Understanding CVE-2018-5113

This CVE entry highlights a security flaw in Firefox that could potentially enable extensions to load privileged pages improperly.

What is CVE-2018-5113?

The vulnerability arises from the "browser.identity.launchWebAuthFlow" function in WebExtensions, which should only load content over "https:" but fails to enforce this requirement effectively.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5113

The vulnerability could permit the loading of privileged pages by extensions, compromising user security and potentially leading to unauthorized access.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5113

This section delves into the specifics of the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue stems from the failure to properly enforce the restriction that the "browser.identity.launchWebAuthFlow" function can only load content over "https:".

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Firefox
Vendor: Mozilla
Versions Affected: < 58

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows extensions to load privileged pages, potentially leading to unauthorized access and security breaches.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2018-5113 requires immediate action and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Firefox to version 58 or above to mitigate the vulnerability.
Disable or remove extensions that may pose a security risk.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update browsers and extensions to the latest versions.
Exercise caution when installing and granting permissions to browser extensions.

Patching and Updates

Mozilla has likely released patches addressing this vulnerability. Ensure that Firefox is up to date to prevent exploitation.