Firefox and Tor hit with 9.8 critical level exploit

Summary

In a recent video, the host discusses a critical 9.8 vulnerability found in Firefox, which has been actively exploited. This flaw, a 'use after free' issue linked to the CSS animation timeline, allows attackers to potentially execute remote code. As browser security concerns rise, the video highlights the implications for users on both Firefox and other browsers, including Chrome. Additionally, the video touches on changes affecting ad blockers due to Google's Manifest V3 update. The host concludes by promoting Brilliant, an educational platform offering interactive lessons in programming and other subjects, to help viewers enhance their coding skills.

Takeaways

• 🚨 A critical vulnerability (9.8 severity) has been discovered in Firefox, allowing attackers to gain remote code execution.
• 💻 The exploit targets a use after free flaw related to the CSS animation timeline property in Firefox.
• 🕵️‍♂️ This vulnerability has been actively exploited in the wild, posing risks to users on various versions of Firefox.
• 🔒 Users of the Tor browser, which is based on Firefox, are also at risk, highlighting the widespread impact of this vulnerability.
• ⚠️ The Firefox codebase consists of over 30 million lines, making it complex and susceptible to such vulnerabilities.
• 🛠️ Use after free exploits have previously affected other browsers like Chrome and Safari and were involved in the 2019 iOS jailbreak.
• 🧑‍💻 The importance of proper memory management in programming is emphasized, particularly regarding pointer usage.
• 🔧 Mozilla has addressed the vulnerability, and users are urged to update their Firefox versions immediately.
• 📉 The transition of ad blockers like Ublock Origin to Manifest V3 in Chrome will limit their effectiveness in blocking ads.
• 📚 Learning computer science fundamentals is crucial for writing secure and robust code, with resources like Brilliant available for free.

Q & A

What critical vulnerability was discovered in Firefox?

A 9.8 critical vulnerability related to a use after free flaw in the CSS animation timeline property was discovered, which could allow attackers to execute remote code.

How does the use after free vulnerability work?

It occurs when a pointer to deallocated memory is still used in the code, which can lead to undefined behavior and allow attackers to inject malicious code into that memory.

What implications does this vulnerability have for Tor browser users?

Tor browser users are also at risk, as the Tor browser is based on Firefox. Although attackers could take control of the browser, full de-anonymization of users may not be possible if they are using Tails OS.

What was the previous major exploit mentioned in the video?

The previous exploit discussed was a significant vulnerability found in the Chromium-based Arc browser.

What company reported the vulnerability in Firefox?

The vulnerability was discovered and reported by the Slovakian company ESET.

How complex is Firefox's codebase?

Firefox's codebase is extremely complex, consisting of over 30 million lines of code, primarily written in C++ and increasingly in Rust.

What is the significance of the message regarding Ublock Origin?

A warning message appeared on the Ublock Origin install page indicating that the plugin's execution date is drawing near, related to changes in browser extension policies moving from Manifest V2 to V3.

What are the recommended actions for users after discovering the vulnerability?

Users are advised to update their Firefox browsers immediately to mitigate the risk posed by the vulnerability.

What educational resource was promoted in the video?

The video promoted Brilliant, an educational platform offering interactive lessons in math, data analysis, programming, and AI to help build foundational skills in computer science.

How has the Firefox team responded to the vulnerability?

Mozilla has released a fix for the vulnerability, and so far, there have been no catastrophic incidents reported as a result of its exploitation.