CVE-2018-5148 : Security Advisory and Response

Firefox ESR < 52.7.3 and Firefox < 59.0.2 are vulnerable to a use-after-free vulnerability in the compositor, potentially leading to exploitable crashes.

Understanding CVE-2018-5148

What is CVE-2018-5148?

The vulnerability in Firefox ESR and Firefox could allow attackers to exploit a use-after-free issue in the compositor, leading to potential crashes.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5148

The vulnerability poses a risk of crashes that could be exploited by malicious actors, potentially compromising the affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5148

Vulnerability Description

A use-after-free vulnerability occurs in the compositor during specific graphics operations when a raw pointer is mistakenly used instead of a reference counted one.

Affected Systems and Versions

Firefox ESR < 52.7.3
Firefox < 59.0.2

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability arises from the incorrect use of raw pointers instead of reference counted ones during certain graphics operations.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Firefox ESR to version 52.7.3 or later.
Update Firefox to version 59.0.2 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 security best practices to mitigate potential vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

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