CVE-2019-11720 : What You Need to Know

Firefox versions below 68 are vulnerable to a character encoding XSS vulnerability that allows the execution of malicious code by treating certain unicode characters as blank spaces. This CVE was published on July 23, 2019, by Mozilla.

Understanding CVE-2019-11720

This CVE affects Mozilla Firefox versions below 68, enabling the execution of malicious code through a character encoding XSS vulnerability.

What is CVE-2019-11720?

Some unicode characters are incorrectly treated as whitespace during web content parsing, allowing the execution of malicious code without triggering cross-site scripting (XSS) filters.

The Impact of CVE-2019-11720

Vulnerability Type: Character encoding XSS
Affected Versions: Firefox < 68
Attack Vector: Remote
CVSS Score: 6.1 (Medium)

Technical Details of CVE-2019-11720

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

Certain unicode characters are mistakenly considered as blank spaces during web content parsing, enabling the execution of malicious code.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Firefox
Vendor: Mozilla
Versions Affected: < 68

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows attackers to craft web content containing malicious code that bypasses XSS filters, leading to potential remote code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protect your systems from CVE-2019-11720 by following these mitigation strategies:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Firefox to version 68 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Consider using security tools to detect and prevent XSS attacks.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update browsers and software to patch security vulnerabilities.
Educate users on safe browsing practices to minimize the risk of executing malicious code.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Mozilla and apply patches promptly to secure your systems.