CVE-2018-5133 : Security Advisory and Response

A vulnerability in Firefox versions older than 59 could allow a local program to execute malicious content through specific user actions.

Understanding CVE-2018-5133

This CVE involves a security issue in Firefox that could lead to the execution of unsanitized content under certain conditions.

What is CVE-2018-5133?

If a local program alters a specific preference in Firefox to include HTML and script content, the content may not be properly sanitized, potentially leading to its execution in certain scenarios.

The Impact of CVE-2018-5133

The vulnerability affects Firefox versions prior to 59 and could be exploited by a local program with malicious intent to execute unsanitized content.

Technical Details of CVE-2018-5133

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The issue arises when the "app.support.baseURL" preference is modified to include HTML and script content, which may not be sanitized, allowing for potential execution.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Firefox
Vendor: Mozilla
Versions Affected: Older than 59

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited when a user loads a specific URL in a tab and performs a search, or when an EME video player plugin displays a certain type of message.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address and prevent the exploitation of CVE-2018-5133, consider the following steps:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Firefox to version 59 or newer to mitigate the vulnerability.
Avoid loading suspicious URLs or executing unknown scripts.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update browsers and plugins to the latest versions.
Exercise caution when interacting with unfamiliar or potentially malicious content.

Patching and Updates

Ensure that Firefox is regularly updated to the latest version to patch known vulnerabilities and enhance security.