CVE-2017-5381 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

In Firefox versions older than 51, a vulnerability in the Certificate Viewer's "export" function allows for local filesystem navigation if the "common name" in a certificate includes slashes, enabling saving certificate content in unsafe locations with a custom filename.

Understanding CVE-2017-5381

In this CVE, a specific vulnerability in Firefox versions prior to 51 poses a risk related to the Certificate Viewer's export function.

What is CVE-2017-5381?

The vulnerability in Firefox < 51 allows malicious actors to manipulate the Certificate Viewer's export feature to navigate the local filesystem and save certificate content in unsafe locations using custom filenames.

The Impact of CVE-2017-5381

The vulnerability enables attackers to potentially save certificate content in arbitrary and unsafe locations on the user's system, posing a risk of unauthorized access or manipulation of sensitive data.

Technical Details of CVE-2017-5381

This section delves into the technical aspects of the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw in Firefox < 51's Certificate Viewer export function permits local filesystem navigation when a certificate's common name contains slashes, facilitating the saving of certificate content in hazardous locations with custom filenames.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Firefox
Vendor: Mozilla
Versions Affected: < 51

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited by manipulating the Certificate Viewer's export function to force local filesystem navigation, leveraging the presence of slashes in a certificate's common name.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2017-5381, users and organizations can take the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Firefox to a version equal to or greater than 51 to mitigate the vulnerability.
Exercise caution when exporting certificates to prevent potential exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update browsers and software to the latest versions to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement secure coding practices to minimize the risk of similar vulnerabilities in applications.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from Mozilla and promptly apply recommended patches to ensure system security.