CVE-2023-5172

A hashtable in the Ion Engine could have been mutated while there was a live interior reference, leading to a potential use-after-free and exploitable crash

Critical · published September 27, 2023

CVSS v3.1
9.8
EPSS
1%
Percentile
62.8
In the wild
Unconfirmed
What it is

🔥 A surprising flaw in Firefox could turn your browsing experience into a digital rollercoaster! Imagine a waiter spilling drinks on a fresh table while customers are still seated — that's how a live interior reference can cause chaos if a hashtable gets mutated mid-action! An attacker could exploit this use-after-free vulnerability, leading to crashes that could reveal sensitive data or allow the execution of arbitrary code. This means your browser could be hijacked, turning your secure browsing session into a playground for nefarious activities!

Put simply

Imagine a waiter spilling drinks on a fresh table while customers are still seated — that's how a live interior reference can cause chaos if a hashtable gets mutated mid-action! CVE-2023-5172 is a use-after-free vulnerability in the Ion Engine of Firefox, affecting versions earlier than 118. The issue arises from a hashtable being modified while still referenced, potentially leading to crashes or memory corruption.

What to do

An attacker could exploit this use-after-free vulnerability, leading to crashes that could reveal sensitive data or allow the execution of arbitrary code. This means your browser could be hijacked, turning your secure browsing session into a playground for nefarious activities! Update Firefox to version 118 or later immediately to patch this critical flaw. Regularly check for updates and encourage your team to do the same, ensuring that everyone is protected. You've got this! By staying updated, you'll keep your browsing safe and sound. 🛡️

The record
Technical detail
CVSS v3.1
9.8 · CRITICAL
Vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS v4.0
Not supplied
EPSS
0.01009 · 62.8th percentile
Published
2023-09-27T14:13Z
EPSS history
Timeline
  • 27 SEP 14:13Z
    A hashtable in the Ion Engine could have been mutated while there was a live interior reference, leading to a potential use-after-free and exploitable crash
    cvelistv5