CVE-2025-14326

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CVE-2025-14326 vulnerability security critical severity use-after-free firefox thunderbird GMP security advisory CVE database

Summary

CVE-2025-14326 is a critical severity use-after-free vulnerability affecting Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird. The vulnerability exists within the Audio/Video: GMP (Gecko Media Plugin) component, potentially allowing for arbitrary code execution if successfully exploited.

Technical Details

This use-after-free vulnerability occurs in the Audio/Video: GMP component of Firefox and Thunderbird. A use-after-free condition arises when a program attempts to access memory after it has been freed. In this specific case, a flaw in the memory management within the GMP component allows for a dangling pointer to be accessed after the memory it points to has been deallocated. An attacker could potentially trigger this vulnerability by crafting malicious media content or manipulating the GMP component's state. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the affected application.

The root cause lies in improper handling of object lifetimes within the GMP component. Specifically, the code fails to properly synchronize access to shared resources, leading to a race condition where an object can be freed while still being referenced. This can occur during media playback or when handling specific media codecs. The complexity of the GMP component and its interaction with various media formats increases the difficulty of identifying and mitigating this type of vulnerability.

Affected Products and Versions

  • Mozilla Firefox versions prior to 146
  • Mozilla Thunderbird versions prior to 146

Impact Assessment

Successful exploitation of CVE-2025-14326 can have severe consequences.

  • Arbitrary Code Execution: An attacker could execute arbitrary code on the victim's system with the privileges of the Firefox or Thunderbird process.
  • Data Breach Risk: If the attacker gains code execution, they could potentially access sensitive data stored within the application or on the system.
  • System Compromise: In a worst-case scenario, the attacker could gain complete control of the affected system.
  • Denial of Service: Exploitation could also lead to application crashes and denial of service.

Remediation

Immediate Actions

  • Update Firefox and Thunderbird: Immediately update to Firefox version 146 or later, and Thunderbird version 146 or later. These versions contain the necessary patches to address the vulnerability.
  • Verify Update Success: After updating, verify that the new version is installed correctly.
  • Monitor Systems: Continuously monitor systems for any suspicious activity that may indicate exploitation attempts.

Long-term Solutions

  • Enable Automatic Updates: Configure Firefox and Thunderbird to automatically install updates to ensure timely patching of future vulnerabilities.
  • Security Awareness Training: Educate users about the risks of opening suspicious attachments or visiting untrusted websites.

Detection & Scanning

This vulnerability can be detected by identifying vulnerable versions of Firefox and Thunderbird. Security scanners and vulnerability assessment tools can be used to identify systems running affected versions.

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