Mozilla on Wednesday patched a single critical security vulnerability in the JavaScript engine of Firefox, updating the open-source browser to Version 2.0.0.14.
According to the associated advisory, Mozilla patched the bug primarily for stability reasons, but said that attackers might leverage crashes in JavaScript's garbage collector. "We have no demonstration that this particular crash is exploitable but are issuing this advisory because some crashes of this type have been shown to be exploitable in the past," the advisory read.
JavaScript's garbage collector reclaims memory and returns it to the system; its efficiency is an important factor in the performance of JavaScript specifically and Firefox in general.
Firefox 2.0.0.14 can be downloaded from the Mozilla site in versions for Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux. Users running Firefox can call up the browser's built in updater, or wait for the automatic update notification, which typically appears within 24 to 48 hours after Mozilla posts a new version.
As with Firefox fixes issued in March, Wednesday's wasn't added to Thunderbird, even though the e-mail client uses Firefox's engine. A month ago, David Ascher, the head of Mozilla Messaging pleaded lack of resources when he explained why JavaScript bugs in Thunderbird weren't fixed, but said the e-mailer would be patched in "several weeks."
Thunderbird has not been updated since early February.
Wednesday, Mozilla again warned Thunderbird users that JavaScript was potentially dangerous because patches hadn't been applied. "Thunderbird shares the browser engine with Firefox and could be vulnerable if JavaScript were to be enabled in mail," the advisory said. "This is not the default setting and we strongly discourage users from running JavaScript in mail."
Computerworld is an InfoWorld affiliate.
This whitepaper explains the terminology and concepts behind Data Replication technologies and establishes some sizing rules through worked examples. Learn the new paradigm in disaster tolerance—protect data anywhere.
Download now »
Server virtualization is a popular option for dealing with mounting datacenter costs. Another equally promising approach is the use of an Application Delivery Controller. Citrix NetScaler provides a low-cost way for organizations to reduce their server count and accrue cost savings from a reduction in space, cooling, power and personnel.
Download now »
The emergence of WLANs has created a new breed of security threats to enterprise networks.
Included in HP ProCurve WLAN solutions is security technology that alleviates threats from WLANs through:
* Monitoring wireless activity inside and out of the enterprise
* Classifying WLAN transmissions into harmful and harmless
* Preventing transmissions that pose a security threat to the enterprise network
* Locating participating devices for physical remediation
Effectively address data protection challenges, implementing solutions that help store and protect business–critical data while cutting costs and improving efficiency and reliability.
Download now »
Sign up to receive Security Resource Alerts
This white paper provides guidance on how to develop a strategic approach to managing and monitoring logs, a key function required for compliance with many regulatory mandates and a critical defense against security threats.
Download now! »
Learn about the processes and technologies that support security information management (SIM) operations, as well as the business case for SIM. The series examines different options for implementing SIM and gives you evaluation criteria for selecting the best option for your organization.
Download now! »
Learn the strategies, actions, and capabilities that Best-in-Class organizations employ and technologies they choose to obtain superior performance against various security performance metrics. This report provides guidelines for identifying which security solutions to consume as a MSS and defines best practices for choosing and managing MSSPs.
Download now! »
Recommend This
