CVE-2019-11693 : Security Advisory and Response

A buffer overflow vulnerability in WebGL affecting Thunderbird, Firefox, and Firefox ESR on Linux systems.

Understanding CVE-2019-11693

What is CVE-2019-11693?

The bufferdata function in WebGL on Linux systems may experience a buffer overflow issue, potentially leading to tab unresponsiveness or crashes exploitable by malicious content.

The Impact of CVE-2019-11693

This vulnerability affects Thunderbird versions prior to 60.7, Firefox versions prior to 67, and Firefox ESR versions prior to 60.7. It is specific to Linux and does not impact other operating systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-11693

Vulnerability Description

The bufferdata function in WebGL on Linux is susceptible to a buffer overflow, allowing malicious content to freeze tabs or trigger exploitable crashes.

Affected Systems and Versions

Thunderbird versions less than 60.7
Firefox versions less than 67
Firefox ESR versions less than 60.7

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by leveraging specific graphics drivers on Linux systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Thunderbird, Firefox, and Firefox ESR to versions 60.7, 67, and 60.7 respectively.
Avoid visiting untrusted websites or clicking on suspicious links.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update browsers and operating systems to the latest versions.
Implement security best practices to mitigate the risk of buffer overflow vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Mozilla to address the buffer overflow vulnerability in WebGL on Linux systems.