CVE-2018-5158 : Security Advisory and Response
Learn about CVE-2018-5158, a vulnerability in Firefox ESR < 52.8 and Firefox < 60 enabling JavaScript injection through crafted PDF files, potentially compromising viewer permissions. Find mitigation steps and updates here.
A vulnerability in Firefox ESR < 52.8 and Firefox < 60 allows the injection of malicious JavaScript through a crafted PDF file, exploiting the PDF viewer's permissions.
Understanding CVE-2018-5158
What is CVE-2018-5158?
The flaw in the PDF viewer of Firefox ESR < 52.8 and Firefox < 60 enables the injection of malicious JavaScript via a specially crafted PDF file.
The Impact of CVE-2018-5158
The vulnerability allows attackers to execute malicious JavaScript within the PDF viewer's worker, potentially compromising the viewer's permissions.
Technical Details of CVE-2018-5158
Vulnerability Description
The PDF viewer fails to properly sanitize PostScript calculator functions, facilitating the injection of malicious JavaScript through a crafted PDF file.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Product: Firefox ESR
- Vendor: Mozilla
- Versions Affected: < 52.8
- Product: Firefox
- Vendor: Mozilla
- Versions Affected: < 60
Exploitation Mechanism
The vulnerability is exploited by injecting malicious JavaScript through a specifically crafted PDF file, taking advantage of the PDF viewer's worker permissions.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Firefox ESR to version 52.8 or higher.
- Update Firefox to version 60 or higher.
- Avoid opening PDF files from untrusted or unknown sources.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update browsers and plugins to the latest versions.
- Implement network segmentation to limit the impact of potential attacks.
Patching and Updates
Apply security patches provided by Mozilla to address the vulnerability.