CVE-2020-12387 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

A race condition in Web Worker shutdown code led to a use-after-free vulnerability affecting Firefox ESR < 68.8, Firefox < 76, and Thunderbird < 68.8.0.

Understanding CVE-2020-12387

This CVE involves a use-after-free vulnerability during worker shutdown, impacting Mozilla products.

What is CVE-2020-12387?

A race condition during Web Worker shutdown code execution resulted in a use-after-free vulnerability, potentially leading to exploitable crashes.

The Impact of CVE-2020-12387

The vulnerability affects Firefox ESR < 68.8, Firefox < 76, and Thunderbird < 68.8.0, potentially allowing attackers to exploit the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-12387

This section provides detailed technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

A race condition in Web Worker shutdown code caused a use-after-free vulnerability, leading to potentially exploitable crashes.

Affected Systems and Versions

Firefox ESR < 68.8
Firefox < 76
Thunderbird < 68.8.0

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by triggering the race condition during Web Worker shutdown, leading to a use-after-free scenario.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-12387 is crucial to maintaining security.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Firefox ESR to version 68.8 or higher
Update Firefox to version 76 or higher
Update Thunderbird to version 68.8.0 or higher

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to the latest versions
Implement secure coding practices to prevent race conditions and use-after-free vulnerabilities

Patching and Updates

Apply patches provided by Mozilla to address the vulnerability