Not ratedCVE-2009-0689

    Mozilla Firefox: Heap-Based Buffer Overflow (CVE-2009-0689)

    Published Sources: CVE.org

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    What is affected, what to do

    Array index error in the (1) dtoa implementation in dtoa.c (aka pdtoa.c) and the (2) gdtoa (aka new dtoa) implementation in gdtoa/misc.c in libc, as used in multiple operating systems and products including in FreeBSD 6.4 and 7.2, NetBSD 5.0, OpenBSD 4.5, Mozilla Firefox 3.0.x before 3.0.15 and 3.5.x before 3.5.4, K-Meleon 1.5.3, SeaMonkey 1.1.8, and other products, allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a large precision value in the format argument to a printf function, which triggers incorrect memory allocation and a heap-based buffer overflow during conversion to a floating-point number.

    The available sources name no fixed version. Check the vendor guidance in the references below.

    Affected
    • K-meleon eq 1.5.3..1.5.3
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.0.1..3.0.1
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.0.2..3.0.2
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.0.3..3.0.3
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.0.4..3.0.4
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.0.5..3.0.5
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.0.6..3.0.6
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.0.7..3.0.7
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.0.8..3.0.8
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.0.9..3.0.9
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.0.10..3.0.10
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.0.11..3.0.11
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.0.12..3.0.12
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.0.13..3.0.13
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.0.14..3.0.14
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.5..3.5
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.5.1..3.5.1
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.5.2..3.5.2
    • Mozilla Firefox eq 3.5.3..3.5.3
    • Mozilla Seamonkey eq 1.1.8..1.1.8
    • FreeBSD eq 6.4..6.4
    • FreeBSD eq 7.2..7.2
    • NetBSD eq 5.0..5.0
    • OpenBSD eq 4.5..4.5

    Not sure whether and how you are affected? Ask a question about this vulnerability

    Metrics

    —

    Priority

    No value is available for this vulnerability.

    —

    CVSS v3

    No value is available for this vulnerability.

    29.4 %

    EPSS score

    Elevated — model estimates 10-50% exploitation likelihood.

    Source: FIRST EPSS, percentile 98.2

    Show all metrics
    Severity
    Not rated
    Priority (0–325)

    The priority score is a consolidated metric that condenses several individual signals into a single, action-guiding ranking: technical severity (CVSS), exploitation likelihood (EPSS), known-exploited status (KEV) and the context of the affected asset. The aim is to answer the only truly important question in vulnerability management: what first?

    Read in glossary
    77.13 Methodology
    Exploit maturity

    An exploit is code or a technique that specifically uses a concrete vulnerability to force unintended behaviour — such as executing code or escalating privileges. It is the tool that turns a theoretical flaw into a practical attack.

    Read in glossary
    no public PoC known
    EPSS score

    The EPSS score is the absolute model output for an individual vulnerability: the estimated probability of real-world exploitation within the next 30 days, expressed as a value between 0 and 1 (i.e. 0 % to 100 %). A score of 0.42 means „the model estimates a 42 % chance of real-world exploitation within 30 days“.

    Read in glossary
    29.4 %
    Elevated — model estimates 10-50% exploitation likelihood.
    EPSS percentile

    The EPSS percentile is the relative position of a vulnerability within all EPSS-scored CVEs, expressed as a value between 0 and 1. A percentile of 0.90 means „this CVE has a higher EPSS score than 90 % of all other scored CVEs“. Unlike the EPSS score, it is not a probability — but a positioning within a ranking.

    Read in glossary
    98.2
    Critical — this CVE ranks in the top fifth of all CVEs scored today (rank ≥ 80%).
    KEV status

    The KEV catalogue is a list maintained by the US authority CISA of vulnerabilities for which active exploitation in the wild has been confirmed. It answers not the question „how severe?“ but „is it already being attacked?“ — thereby sharply prioritising patching.

    Read in glossary
    —
    Published

    Detection rules

    No NEOSEC detection rule is available for this vulnerability yet.

    Classification under NIS2 and CRA

    Rule-based classification from exploitation status and severity. It does not replace a case-by-case assessment.

    NIS2

    NIS2 is EU Directive (EU) 2022/2555 to raise the level of cybersecurity across the Union. It substantially broadens obligations compared with the first NIS directive: more sectors, mandatory risk management, staged reporting duties and personal accountability of senior management.

    Read in glossary
    Handle the vulnerability in regular vulnerability handling under Art. 21(2)(e) NIS2.
    CRA

    The CRA is EU Regulation (EU) 2024/2847 setting horizontal cybersecurity requirements for „products with digital elements“ — from industrial controllers and software to connected consumer devices. For the first time manufacturers must ensure security across the entire product lifecycle, handle vulnerabilities and provide security updates.

    Read in glossary
    From 11.12.2027, Annex I Part II CRA requires manufacturers of affected products with digital elements to handle vulnerabilities without delay and provide security updates.
    ISO/IEC 27001

    ISO/IEC 27001 is the internationally leading standard for an information security management system (ISMS). It describes a risk-based, process-oriented framework to systematically plan, implement, review and improve information security.

    Read in glossary
    Control A.8.8, management of technical vulnerabilities: assess relevance to your systems, plan remediation and keep evidence.

    Description

    Array index error in the (1) dtoa implementation in dtoa.c (aka pdtoa.c) and the (2) gdtoa (aka new dtoa) implementation in gdtoa/misc.c in libc, as used in multiple operating systems and products including in FreeBSD 6.4 and 7.2, NetBSD 5.0, OpenBSD 4.5, Mozilla Firefox 3.0.x before 3.0.15 and 3.5.x before 3.5.4, K-Meleon 1.5.3, SeaMonkey 1.1.8, and other products, allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) and possibly execute arbitrary code via a large precision value in the format argument to a printf function, which triggers incorrect memory allocation and a heap-based buffer overflow during conversion to a floating-point number.

    Source: NVD (NIST), cvelistv5

    Affected products

    The following versions are affected. Older releases of the same product line are also vulnerable unless stated otherwise.

    Affected products
    Affected versionsFixed in
    k-meleon_projectk-meleon
    • 1.5.3
    • —
    mozillafirefox
    • 3.0.3
    • 3.0.7
    • 3.5.1
    • 3.0.14
    • 3.0.10
    • 3.5.3
    • 3.0.6
    • 3.0.8
    • 3.5.2
    • 3.0.12
    • 3.0.2
    • 3.0.13
    • 3.0.5
    • 3.5
    • 3.0.11
    • 3.0.1
    • 3.0.4
    • 3.0.9
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    • —
    mozillaseamonkey
    • 1.1.8
    • —

    Vendors and products

    Affected operating systems

    Affected operating systems
    BSDfreebsdfreebsd6.4
    BSDfreebsdfreebsd7.2
    BSDnetbsdnetbsd5.0
    BSDopenbsdopenbsd4.5

    References & sources

    • cvsweb.netbsd.orgbsdweb.cgi/src/lib/libc/gdtoa/gdtoaimp.hx_refsource_CONFIRM, Patch
    • secunia.comsecunia_research/2009-35x_refsource_MISC, Vendor advisory
    • bugzilla.mozilla.orgshow_bug.cgi?id=516862x_refsource_CONFIRM
    • securityreason.com20090625 Multiple Vendors libc/gdtoa printf(3) Array OverrunThird-party advisory, x_refsource_SREASONRES, Exploit
    • securityfocus.com20091120 SeaMonkey 1.1.8 Remote Array Overrun (Arbitrary code execution)Mailing list, x_refsource_BUGTRAQ
    • securityreason.com20091211 Thunderbird 2.0.0.23 (lib) Remote Array Overrun (Arbitrary code execution)Third-party advisory, x_refsource_SREASONRES
    • redhat.comRHSA-2010:0153Vendor advisory, x_refsource_REDHAT
    • securityreason.com20091211 Flock 2.5.2 Remote Array Overrun (Arbitrary code execution)Third-party advisory, x_refsource_SREASONRES
    • mandriva.comMDVSA-2009:330Vendor advisory, x_refsource_MANDRIVA
    • secunia.com39001Third-party advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA, Vendor advisory
    • lists.opensuse.orgSUSE-SR:2009:018Vendor advisory, x_refsource_SUSE
    • securityfocus.com20091120 K-Meleon 1.5.3 Remote Array Overrun (Arbitrary code execution)Mailing list, x_refsource_BUGTRAQ
    • support.apple.comkb/HT4225x_refsource_CONFIRM
    • securityreason.com20091120 Opera 10.01 Remote Array Overrun (Arbitrary code execution)Third-party advisory, x_refsource_SREASONRES
    • securityreason.com20091120 K-Meleon 1.5.3 Remote Array Overrun (Arbitrary code execution)Third-party advisory, x_refsource_SREASONRES
    • mozilla.orgsecurity/announce/2009/mfsa2009-59.htmlx_refsource_CONFIRM, Vendor advisory
    • vupen.comADV-2010-0094Vulnerability database, x_refsource_VUPEN, Vendor advisory
    • vupen.comADV-2010-0648Vulnerability database, x_refsource_VUPEN, Vendor advisory
    • vupen.comADV-2010-0650Vulnerability database, x_refsource_VUPEN, Vendor advisory
    • sunsolve.sun.com272909Vendor advisory, x_refsource_SUNALERT
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