External risk intelligence

Firefox: Use-After-Free Vulnerability Leading to Sandbox Escape.

CVE advisoryKnown Exploit

CVE-2022-26486

An unexpected message in the WebGPU IPC framework could lead to a sandbox escape, allowing attackers to potentially access systems and data. Reports indicate this flaw is actively exploited in the wild, posing a business risk to organizations using affected Mozilla products.

1Halo Surface Signal

Use After Free

Mozilla Firefox

before 91.6.1before 97.0.2before 97.3.0before 91.6.2

External exposure likelihood

Halo Surface Signal score for CVE-2022-26486

This vulnerability affects client-side software (web browsers and email clients). These applications are end-user software, not network-accessible services, appliances, or gateways. Exposure is limited to the local machine and the sites a user chooses to visit, making it effectively local-only in terms of public-internet-facing attack surface.

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

An unexpected message within the WebGPU IPC framework of certain Mozilla products created a use-after-free vulnerability. This flaw allows for an exploitable sandbox escape, meaning an attacker could potentially break out of the intended security boundaries. This could enable unauthorized actions within the affected systems.

  • Vulnerable component: WebGPU IPC framework
  • Core weakness: Use-after-free
  • Main business impact: Sandbox escape

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An unexpected message within the WebGPU IPC framework could allow an attacker to escape the sandbox. Reports indicate that this flaw is being exploited in the wild. The vulnerability can lead to a use-after-free condition, enabling attackers to achieve control.

  • Exposure condition: A web page or malicious file is accessed.
  • Attacker starting point: User interaction with the application.
  • Trigger and result: An unexpected message leads to sandbox escape.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability involves a flaw in how specific Mozilla software handles messages, potentially allowing for a sandbox escape and code execution. Reports indicate that this flaw is being actively exploited in the wild. The potential impact includes unauthorized access to systems and data, posing a significant risk to affected organizations.

  • Likely attacker skill level: Low
  • Required access or conditions: User interaction, network access
  • Business risk or urgency: High

Priority actions

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

An unexpected message within the WebGPU IPC framework could lead to a sandbox escape, potentially impacting organizational systems and data. Reports indicate that this flaw is actively being exploited in the wild, posing a significant business risk. The vulnerability affects specific versions of Firefox, Firefox ESR, Firefox for Android, Thunderbird, and Focus.

  • Identify affected software assets.
  • Reduce exposure or isolate risk.
  • Apply vendor fixes and validate.
  • Monitor for related issues.

Frequently asked questions

What is the WebGPU IPC framework in Mozilla products?

The WebGPU IPC framework is a component within Mozilla software that handles communication between different processes, particularly related to web graphics processing. It helps manage how web applications interact with the system's graphics capabilities in a secure, isolated manner.

What weakness class does CVE-2022-26486 represent?

CVE-2022-26486 is classified as a use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416). This means the software attempts to access memory that has already been freed, which can lead to crashes or allow attackers to execute malicious code by manipulating that memory.

How might an attacker trigger this CVE-2022-26486 vulnerability?

This vulnerability can be triggered by an unexpected message within the WebGPU IPC framework. The draft indicates that user interaction with the application, such as visiting a malicious web page or opening a crafted file, is a necessary precondition for exploitation.

Who should be concerned about CVE-2022-26486?

Individuals and organizations using specific versions of Firefox, Firefox ESR, Firefox for Android, Thunderbird, or Focus should be concerned. The Halo Surface Signal indicates this affects client-side software, meaning the primary risk is to end-user machines rather than network-facing services.

What are the first steps for addressing CVE-2022-26486?

The immediate first step is to identify which of the affected Mozilla products and versions are running within your environment. Following that, applying updates provided by the vendor is crucial to remediate the vulnerability.

References