FirefoxWeb browser · Mozilla

CVE-2009-3077

HIGH · 9.3 CVSS v2.0 Published 2009-09-10

Fix available

A fix is available. Upgrade to after 3.0.13 or later.

See remediation →

100/100

Remediation priority · Urgent

Remotely reachable No privileges Zero-click

Official description

NVD · unedited

Mozilla Firefox before 3.0.14, and 3.5.x before 3.5.3, does not properly manage pointers for the columns (aka TreeColumns) of a XUL tree element, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted HTML document, related to a "dangling pointer vulnerability."

Technical summary

dbcve analysis · high confidence

A dangling pointer vulnerability exists in Mozilla Firefox's XUL tree element handling, specifically in the TreeColumns management code. The browser fails to properly maintain pointers when processing XUL tree columns, allowing a remote attacker to exploit the dangling pointer to execute arbitrary code via a crafted HTML document.

MitigationUpgrade Firefox to version 3.0.14 or 3.5.3 or later to patch the dangling pointer vulnerability. Given the CVSS 9.3 severity and remote code execution capability, immediate patching of affected browser installations is critical.

Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.

Affected products & versions

NVD · CPE data

FirefoxWeb browser

Affected:<= 3.0.13= 0.1= 0.2= 0.3= 0.4= 0.5= 0.6= 0.6.1= 0.7= 0.7.1= 0.8= 0.9

CVSS breakdown

From the vector

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: M
Authentication: None
Confidentiality: Complete
Integrity: Complete
Availability: Complete

AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Am I affected?

dbcve checks

Work through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.

Verify Firefox is installed

Check for Firefox executable or check version via command line (firefox --version on Linux/Mac, or check Help > About in the browser)

Affected if Firefox is installed and matches the version detection below
Determine installed Firefox version

Run 'firefox --version' or open Firefox, go to Help > About Mozilla Firefox to view the exact version number

Affected if Version is 3.0.13 or earlier, or one of: 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5, 0.6, 0.6.1, 0.7, 0.7.1, 0.8, or 0.9
Confirm vulnerability trigger condition

The vulnerability is triggered when Firefox processes a specially crafted HTML document containing malicious XUL tree elements. No specific browser setting needs to be enabled; the flaw exists in the core TreeColumns handling code.

Affected if The installed Firefox version falls within the affected range AND the browser is used to process untrusted web content

If Firefox version is 3.0.13 or earlier, or any of the specific older versions (0.1-0.9), the browser is vulnerable to remote code execution via the XUL tree dangling pointer flaw when visiting a crafted malicious page.

Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.

Remediation

dbcve · scoped

Upgrade available Upgrade to a release after 3.0.13

Interim mitigation

Upgrade Firefox to version 3.0.14 or 3.5.3 or later to patch the dangling pointer vulnerability. Given the CVSS 9.3 severity and remote code execution capability, immediate patching of affected browser installations is critical.

Recommended fix High confidence

Firefox 3.0.14 or Firefox 3.5.3 (or migrate to a currently supported Firefox release)

1. Backup any important data (bookmarks, passwords, etc.) from the current Firefox profile
2. Download Firefox 3.0.14 (or Firefox 3.5.3 if currently on the 3.5 branch) from the Mozilla archives, or preferably download a modern supported Firefox version
3. Close all Firefox instances
4. Install the downloaded Firefox version
5. Import or sync bookmarks and settings to the new installation
6. Verify the browser launches successfully and test functionality

Caveat Firefox 3.0.x and 3.5.x are extremely outdated with many subsequent security fixes and feature changes; legacy extensions and websites may not work properly

Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.

Fix this in Firefox Scoped from the published advisory

Consultation1.0 h
Implementation1.0 h
Testing1.0 h
Review / QA1.0 h

4.0 hours of engineering $750

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Scan for this in your stack

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References

Primary sources

Practitioner notes

Contributed

Peer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2009-3077 in production — separate from our analysis above.

Notes0 Guidelines

Know something about CVE-2009-3077?

The advisory tells you what broke. It rarely tells you what actually worked. If you’ve dealt with this one, that detail is what the next engineer is searching for.

The version that genuinely resolved it — not the one the vendor claimed
A config change or rule that shut the vector down
A gotcha in the upgrade path that cost you an afternoon

No notes yet

Be the first to add a field note for this CVE — a mitigation you’ve verified, a version caveat, or a link to a working fix. Sign in above to contribute.

What this is

A place for practitioners to share what actually worked: a mitigation you’ve tested, a configuration change, a version- or environment-specific caveat, or a link to a verified patch. The most useful notes rise to the top as peers upvote them, so the signal stays high.

What belongs here

Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
No spam, self-promotion, credentials, or personal data

At a glance

A fix existsUpgrade to after 3.0.13 or later

Severity 9.3 High

Exploit likelihood EPSS, next 30 days 4.6%

Affects: Firefox

Remediation

A high-priority fix

Fix this in Firefox 4 hrs · Low

Typical engagement from $750

Get a fix See the full breakdown ↓

A high-priority vulnerability. Send your environment and a specialist will scope CVE-2009-3077 and return a fixed quote and timeline.

You’ll deal with our team directly and deploy the reviewed fix to staging first — never straight to production.

Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.

Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.

Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.

CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.

Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.

Check your environment

Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.

Scan for this in your stack

References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.

Practitioner notes

No notes yet

Official description

Technical summary

Affected products & versions

CVSS breakdown

Am I affected?

Remediation

References