![]() ![]() Post extensively updated throughout to add details about a just-released patch for the mainstream version of Firefox and Mozilla comments about the exploit. The latest Firefox version includes security updates, so downgrading to an older version leaves you more vulnerable to attacks and usually doesnt fix the problem. For much more about this attack see Ars's previous coverage Firefox 0-day in the wild is being used to attack Tor users. People using both Tor and mainstream versions of Firefox are believed to be protected from the attack by setting the Firefox security slider to "High," although the setting will prevent many sites from working as expected. It's not clear what effect the new NoScript update has on that policy.įirefox and Tor users should install the fixes at once. ![]() For privacy and usability reasons, the Tor browser has traditionally installed NoScript in a way that allowed all sites to run JavaScript in the browser. NoScript allows users to select the sites that can and cannot execute JavaScript in the browser. Because the initial post to the Tor group included the complete source code, the highly reliable exploit quickly became available to millions of people, although they would have to make minor changes to make use of it.īesides an update for Firefox, Wednesday's Tor release also includes an update to NoScript, a Firefox extension that ships with the Tor browser. The malicious payload delivered by the code-execution exploit is almost identical to one the FBI used in 2013 to identify people who were trading child pornography on a Tor-anonymized website. ![]() A thread on an online forum for discussing Firefox bugs indicated the critical flaw has existed in the browser code base for five years.Īttack code exploiting the vulnerability first circulated Tuesday on a Tor discussion list and was quickly confirmed as a zero-day, the term given to vulnerabilities that are actively exploited in the wild before the developer has a patch in place. A separate Mozilla security advisory shows that it also affects Mozilla's Thunderbird e-mail application, as well as the Firefox Extended Support release version used by the Tor browser. If this exploit was in fact developed and deployed by a government agency, the fact that it has been published and can now be used by anyone to attack Firefox users is a clear demonstration of how supposedly limited government hacking can become a threat to the broader Web." AdvertisementĪccording to the release notes for version 50.0.2 released in the past few hours, the underlying vulnerability is indexed as CVE-2016-9079 and is rated as critical. "As of now, we do not know whether this is the case. "This similarity has led to speculation that this exploit was created by FBI or another law enforcement agency," Veditz wrote. Note: While Bug 1771084 does not represent a specific vulnerability that was fixed, we recommend anyone rebasing patches to include it. The code in general resembles the types of so-called network investigative techniques used by law-enforcement agencies, and specifically one that the FBI used in 2013 to identify Tor-protected users who were trading child pornography. The exploit used the capability to send the target's IP and MAC address to an attacker-controlled server. Others expose more sensitive information such as credit card numbers, passport numbers and social security numbers.Further Reading Attackers wield Firefox exploit to uncloak anonymous Tor usersThe attack executed code when targets loaded malicious JavaScript and code based on scalable animation vector graphics. Many data breaches expose email addresses and passwords. It just depends on what hackers can access. Not all breaches expose all the same info. What information gets exposed in data breaches? Keep your passwords in a safe place that only you have access to this could be the same place where you store important documents or a password manager. Hackers rely on people reusing passwords, so it’s important to create strong, unique passwords for all your accounts. Visit Firefox Monitor to learn what to do after a data breach. A data breach can also happen by accident like if someone’s login credentials accidentally get posted publicly. Mozilla has released these two versions to address the vulnerability: Firefox 72.0.1 Firefox ESR 68.4. Also note, download the Java 8 and not the newer 9 as Oracle is discontinuing their vulnerable Java Plugin. These security incidents can be a result of cyber attacks to websites, apps or any database where people’s personal information resides. Note since you use Windows you will need the 32-bit version as the Win64 version has only allowed the Flash Player and Silverlight NPAPI Plugins to run since version 43.0 (Win64 started at 42.0 Release). A data breach happens when personal or private information gets exposed, stolen or copied without permission. ![]()
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