CVE-2013-1690 Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird: memory-safety flaw
In plain words: The program mishandles the memory it uses to keep track of data. A specially made input can scramble that memory. Usually lets an attacker crash the program or run their own code with its permissions.
Confirmed exploited by CISA on · US federal patch deadline Apr 18, 2022
What to do
- Install Mozilla's security update for Firefox and Thunderbird. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships.
- Let the browser auto-update and relaunch it when it asks — the fix is not active until you do.
- Keep extensions to a minimum and remove ones you do not recognise.
- Stop using Internet Explorer and any browser that no longer gets updates.
Who is affected
Could reach you. This one is aimed at devices or apps of the kind people own.
What's at risk: A malicious or hacked website can be enough. Browser bugs are often the first step in a longer attack on the whole computer or phone.
The details
- Official name
- Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird Denial-of-Service Vulnerability
- Product
- Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird
- CISA description
- Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird do not properly handle onreadystatechange events in conjunction with page reloading, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial-of-service (DoS) or possibly execute malicious code via a crafted web site.
- Type of flaw
- Memory-safety flaw (CWE-119)
- Confirmed exploited
- Mar 28, 2022
- US federal patch deadline
- Apr 18, 2022
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Answering about CVE-2013-1690 ·
Questions about CVE-2013-1690
Is CVE-2013-1690 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2013-1690 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on Mar 28, 2022, which means there is reliable evidence of real-world attacks.
How do I fix CVE-2013-1690?
Install Mozilla's security update for Firefox and Thunderbird. If no update exists, follow the vendor's workaround or stop using the product until one ships. Let the browser auto-update and relaunch it when it asks — the fix is not active until you do.
Am I affected by CVE-2013-1690?
Only if you use Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird. This one is aimed at devices or apps of the kind people own.