CVE-2019-11751 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in Firefox and Firefox ESR versions prior to 69 and 68.1 respectively allows attackers to write log files to arbitrary locations on Windows systems.

Understanding CVE-2019-11751

This CVE involves a security issue in Firefox and Firefox ESR that can be exploited through external programs launching the browser.

What is CVE-2019-11751?

When Firefox is opened by an external program, such as by clicking on suspicious links in a chat application, the logging-related command line parameters are not adequately sanitized. This allows attackers to write log files to any location, including critical system folders.

The Impact of CVE-2019-11751

The vulnerability enables attackers to execute malicious code through command line parameters, potentially leading to unauthorized access and data manipulation on affected systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-11751

This section provides more in-depth technical insights into the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises from inadequate sanitization of logging-related command line parameters when Firefox is launched by external programs, facilitating unauthorized writing of log files to system folders.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products: Firefox, Firefox ESR
Versions: Firefox < 69, Firefox ESR < 68.1

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating command line parameters when launching Firefox through external programs, allowing them to write log files to any location on Windows systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2019-11751 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Firefox and Firefox ESR to versions 69 and 68.1 respectively to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid clicking on suspicious links that may trigger the exploit.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update browsers and other software to patch known vulnerabilities.
Exercise caution when interacting with untrusted sources or links to prevent similar exploits.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches provided by Mozilla promptly to address CVE-2019-11751 and other potential vulnerabilities.