CVE-2019-9811 Explained : Impact and Mitigation
Learn about CVE-2019-9811 impacting Mozilla Firefox ESR, Firefox, and Thunderbird versions, allowing a sandbox escape via a malicious language pack installation. Find mitigation steps and updates here.
A security vulnerability impacting Mozilla Firefox ESR, Firefox, and Thunderbird versions has been identified, allowing a sandbox escape via a malicious language pack installation.
Understanding CVE-2019-9811
What is CVE-2019-9811?
This CVE involves a technique demonstrated during Pwn2Own that bypasses the sandbox security measure by introducing a harmful language pack, leading to exploitation of a browser feature.
The Impact of CVE-2019-9811
The vulnerability affects Firefox ESR versions less than 60.8, Firefox versions less than 68, and Thunderbird versions less than 60.8.
Technical Details of CVE-2019-9811
Vulnerability Description
The vulnerability allows for a sandbox escape via the installation of a malicious language pack.
Affected Systems and Versions
- Firefox ESR versions less than 60.8
- Firefox versions less than 68
- Thunderbird versions less than 60.8
Exploitation Mechanism
The compromised translation from the language pack is utilized to exploit a specific browser feature.
Mitigation and Prevention
Immediate Steps to Take
- Update Firefox ESR, Firefox, and Thunderbird to versions 60.8, 68, and 60.8 respectively.
- Avoid downloading language packs from untrusted sources.
Long-Term Security Practices
- Regularly update browsers and email clients to the latest versions.
- Exercise caution when installing add-ons or language packs.
Patching and Updates
Apply security patches provided by Mozilla to address the vulnerability.