CVE-2020-15681 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in Firefox < 82 could allow multiple WebAssembly (WASM) threads to overwrite each other's stub table entries, potentially leading to a crash.

Understanding CVE-2020-15681

What is CVE-2020-15681?

When multiple WASM threads reference a module and attempt to look up exported functions, one thread could overwrite another's entry in a shared stub table, posing a risk of a crash.

The Impact of CVE-2020-15681

This vulnerability affects Firefox versions prior to 82, potentially enabling malicious actors to exploit the flaw and cause a crash.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-15681

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises when multiple WASM threads interact with a module, leading to potential overwriting of stub table entries and a subsequent crash.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Firefox
Vendor: Mozilla
Versions Affected: < 82

Exploitation Mechanism

Malicious actors could exploit this vulnerability by manipulating WASM threads to overwrite each other's stub table entries, potentially causing a crash.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Firefox to version 82 or above to mitigate the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor security advisories from Mozilla for any patches or updates.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.
Conduct regular security audits and testing to identify and address potential weaknesses.

Patching and Updates

Apply patches and updates provided by Mozilla promptly to address security vulnerabilities.