The Conservative Cave

The Help Desk => Computer Related Discussions & Questions => Topic started by: Wretched Excess on April 17, 2008, 11:54:34 AM

Title: Latest Firefox update (2.0.0.13) causes crashes, possible hole
Post by: Wretched Excess on April 17, 2008, 11:54:34 AM
Latest Firefox update (2.0.0.13) causes crashes, possible hole

While there is no evidence of an exploit as of yet, Mozilla is taking a proactive measure to fix the issue before it could be.

A problem with stability which resulted in crashes and evidence of memory corruption was remedied in Firefox 2.0.0.13, however apparently the fix did not completely close any holes.

In fact, it seems as if it introduced new stability issues, where crashes occurred during JavaScript garbage collection. That feature allows a developer to reclaim the memory occupied by strings, objects, arrays, and functions that are no longer in use.

"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," Mozilla said in an advisory.

Thunderbird is also affected, however JavaScript needs to be enabled. By default, this is not, and Mozilla said it discourages users from running scripts within mail.

JavaScript garbage collection problems have cropped up in the past. In February 2006, Mozilla addressed several issues within Firefox 1.5 which also posed a memory corruption and arbitrary code risks.

linky (http://www.betanews.com/article/Latest_Firefox_update_causes_crashes_possible_hole/1208442989)



heads up, FF users.  I stuck with 2.0.0.11, and do have periodic java issues.
Title: Re: Latest Firefox update (2.0.0.13) causes crashes, possible hole
Post by: Wretched Excess on April 17, 2008, 12:04:00 PM

I no more posted that link than mozilla tried to push 2.0.0.14 to my desktop.  I'll d/l it later tonight.

the link to d/l 2.0.0.14 is here (http://developer.mozilla.org/devnews/index.php/2008/04/16/firefox-20014-security-and-stability-update-now-available-for-download/)
Title: Re: Latest Firefox update (2.0.0.13) causes crashes, possible hole
Post by: franksolich on April 17, 2008, 12:26:24 PM
Oh damn.

And it was just three hours ago that I downloaded an update on firefox.
Title: Re: Latest Firefox update (2.0.0.13) causes crashes, possible hole
Post by: Wretched Excess on April 17, 2008, 12:37:45 PM
Oh damn.

And it was just three hours ago that I downloaded an update on firefox.

click on Help --> About Mozilla Firefox

you may have gotten the "fixed" update.
Title: Re: Latest Firefox update (2.0.0.13) causes crashes, possible hole
Post by: franksolich on April 17, 2008, 12:38:37 PM
Okay, will do.

later: it says 2.0.0.14.

still later: I went to your link about deleting, but it doesn't show anything about deleting.
Title: Re: Latest Firefox update (2.0.0.13) causes crashes, possible hole
Post by: Wretched Excess on April 17, 2008, 12:42:18 PM
Okay, will do.

later: it says 2.0.0.14.


then you're cool, frank.  or as cool as mozilla can make you right now, anyway.  you must have gotten in just
under the wire. :wink:

Title: Re: Latest Firefox update (2.0.0.13) causes crashes, possible hole
Post by: franksolich on April 17, 2008, 12:43:28 PM
Okay, will do.

later: it says 2.0.0.14.


then you're cool, frank.  or as cool as mozilla can make you right now, anyway.  you must have gotten in just
under the wire. :wink:



Okay, I'm back to being copacetic.  Thanks.
Title: Re: Latest Firefox update (2.0.0.13) causes crashes, possible hole
Post by: Wretched Excess on April 17, 2008, 12:46:25 PM
Okay, will do.

later: it says 2.0.0.14.


then you're cool, frank.  or as cool as mozilla can make you right now, anyway.  you must have gotten in just
under the wire. :wink:



Okay, I'm back to being copacetic.  Thanks.

you were a copacetic guy before.  you were just a copacetic guy with a
potentially unstable browser. :-)
Title: Re: Latest Firefox update (2.0.0.13) causes crashes, possible hole
Post by: Chris_ on April 17, 2008, 02:32:10 PM
I went straight to .14 also
Title: Re: Latest Firefox update (2.0.0.13) causes crashes, possible hole
Post by: Randy on April 20, 2008, 04:49:14 PM
I guess running the No Script Add-On to Firefox stopped me having any problems?  :tinfoil: