Apple's M series devices are powerful machines, but they are not immune to vulnerabilities. In this post, we will discuss a critical vulnerability (CVE-2024-11691), which affects certain WebGL operations on Apple M series hardware and could lead to an out-of-bounds write, as well as memory corruption. The vulnerability specifically affects Firefox (< 133), Firefox ESR (< 128.5), Firefox ESR (< 115.18), Thunderbird (< 133), Thunderbird (< 128.5), and Thunderbird (< 115.18). Other platforms remain unaffected by this bug. Let's dive deeper into the vulnerability to understand its implications, as well as the technical details.
Exploit Details
Overview
CVE-2024-11691 is a vulnerability in WebGL, which is a JavaScript API used for rendering interactive 3D and 2D graphics within a compatible web browser. The flaw was discovered in Apple's GPU driver, and it specifically affects Apple silicon M series devices. The vulnerability can have severe consequences, such as memory corruption, which can lead to application crashes and, in some cases, remote code execution.
The vulnerability was reported by security researchers in Mozilla's Bugzilla, and it led to the release of security updates for Firefox, Firefox ESR, and Thunderbird.
Here's a code snippet that demonstrates the vulnerability present in the WebGL code
var canvas = document.createElement('canvas');
var gl = canvas.getContext('webgl');
// Setup WebGL buffers and shaders
// ...
gl.uniformMatrix4fv(xFFFFFFFF, false, new Float32Array(16));
This example sets a uniform matrix for the WebGL shader using gl.uniformMatrix4fv(). The first argument to the function is an out-of-bounds unsigned integer xFFFFFFFF. This value results in an out-of-bounds write in the GPU driver, which could lead to memory corruption.
Exploit Mitigation and Fixes
Mozilla has been proactive in addressing this vulnerability, and they have released an update for affected software versions. Users are encouraged to update their software to the latest versions to mitigate the risk associated with CVE-2024-11691. The following are the updated software versions that include the patch:
Thunderbird 115.18
As a user, you should always be vigilant about keeping your software up-to-date, especially when it comes to security patches. Regularly check for updates and apply them as soon as possible to protect your device from potential threats like CVE-2024-11691.
Conclusion
CVE-2024-11691 is a critical vulnerability that affects WebGL operations on Apple's M series devices. This flaw could lead to an out-of-bounds write and memory corruption in certain situations. Thankfully, Mozilla has released an update for affected software versions, and users are advised to update to the latest, patched versions to reduce their risk. This case serves as a reminder that no platform or hardware is immune to vulnerabilities, and it's essential to stay up-to-date with security updates to keep yourself protected.
Timeline
Published on: 11/26/2024 14:15:18 UTC
Last modified on: 12/13/2024 17:15:05 UTC