# CVE-2011-3659: Use after free in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code via use-after-free in Firefox, Thunderbird, and SeaMonkey by triggering incorrect DOM attribute notifications.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 1 Feb 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-6j4m-9ghg-x3p4

## What is CVE-2011-3659?

CVE-2011-3659 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox, published on 1 Feb 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Use-after-free vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox before 3.6.26 and 4.x through 9.0, Thunderbird before 3.1.18 and 5.0 through 9.0, and SeaMonkey before 2.7 might allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via vectors related to incorrect AttributeChildRemoved notifications that affect access to removed nsDOMAttribute child nodes.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2011-3659?

It affects 7 products.


Products: Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Seamonkey, Mozilla Thunderbird, Opensuse Opensuse, Suse Linux Enterprise Desktop, Suse Linux Enterprise Server, Suse Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit.

## How do I fix CVE-2011-3659?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2011-3659 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2011-3659 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Firefox 8/9 AttributeChildRemoved() Use-After-Free (metasploit)
- Mozilla Firefox 8/9 - 'AttributeChildRemoved()' Use-After-Free (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Mozilla Firefox

- [CVE-2019-11708](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-11708/): Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird Sandbox Escape (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2010-3765](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-3765/): Mozilla Multiple Products Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-26486](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-26486/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-26485](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-26485/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-11707](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-11707/): Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird Type Confusion (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2011-3659 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2011-3659 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox, published on 1 Feb 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2011-3659 exists.

Affected product: Mozilla Firefox. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3659/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3659/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2011-3659
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2011-3659
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2011-3659

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-3659/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.