CVE-2019-11736 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2019-11736, a Mozilla Maintenance Service vulnerability impacting Firefox and Firefox ESR versions. Find out how to mitigate this file manipulation and privilege escalation risk.
A vulnerability in Mozilla Maintenance Service allows for file manipulation and privilege escalation, affecting Firefox and Firefox ESR versions.
Understanding CVE-2019-11736
This CVE highlights a security flaw in Mozilla Maintenance Service that impacts specific versions of Firefox and Firefox ESR.
What is CVE-2019-11736?
The vulnerability in Mozilla Maintenance Service enables the replacement of local files, including the Maintenance Service executable, potentially leading to privilege escalation.
The Impact of CVE-2019-11736
The vulnerability allows for undetected manipulation of local files and directories, presenting a privilege escalation opportunity for users with unprivileged local access, specifically on Windows systems.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-11736
This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.
Vulnerability Description
The flaw in the Mozilla Maintenance Service does not protect against files being hardlinked to another file in the updates directory, allowing for file replacement and potential privilege escalation.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Affected Products: Firefox, Firefox ESR
- Versions Impacted: Firefox versions prior to 69, Firefox ESR versions prior to 68.1
Exploitation Mechanism
- Attackers can exploit this vulnerability with local system access on Windows, affecting the Maintenance Service executable.
Mitigation and Prevention
Protecting systems from CVE-2019-11736 is crucial to prevent potential security breaches.
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Firefox and Firefox ESR to versions 69 and 68.1 respectively to mitigate the vulnerability.
- Monitor for any suspicious file changes or unauthorized access.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update software and security patches to address known vulnerabilities.
- Implement least privilege access to limit potential privilege escalation opportunities.
Patching and Updates
- Stay informed about security advisories from Mozilla and promptly apply recommended patches to secure systems.