CVE-2017-5442

A use-after-free vulnerability during changes in style when manipulating DOM elements

published June 11, 2018

CVSS
—
EPSS
3%
Percentile
85.1
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

⚠️ A surprising twist in the style sheets! A use-after-free vulnerability in Thunderbird and specific Firefox versions can cause a crash, potentially leaving you in the lurch! Think of it like a chef trying to plate a dish but removing an ingredient just as the final touches are being added. If the chef isn't careful, the whole meal could collapse—just like how this vulnerability can lead to unstable browser behavior. If exploited, this vulnerability could result in a crash, leading to data loss or even exposing sensitive information on the user's device. While no known exploits are reported, it's wise to stay vigilant to keep your experience smooth and secure.

Put simply

Think of it like a chef trying to plate a dish but removing an ingredient just as the final touches are being added. If the chef isn't careful, the whole meal could collapse—just like how this vulnerability can lead to unstable browser behavior. This use-after-free vulnerability occurs when the DOM manipulates style changes without properly managing memory. When the memory for a DOM element is freed while still being referenced, it can lead to unpredictable behavior, including crashes.

What to do

If exploited, this vulnerability could result in a crash, leading to data loss or even exposing sensitive information on the user's device. While no known exploits are reported, it's wise to stay vigilant to keep your experience smooth and secure. To protect yourself, update Thunderbird to version 52.1 or later, and Firefox ESR to 45.9 or later. If you're using Firefox, ensure you're on version 53 or above. Regularly maintaining your applications will help you avoid issues! You've got this! Stay updated and keep your browsing experience safe and sound! 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS
Not scored
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.02578 · 85.1th percentile
Published
2018-06-11T21:00Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 11 JUN 21:00Z
    A use-after-free vulnerability during changes in style when manipulating DOM elements
    cvelistv5