CVE-2019-9815: If hyperthreading is not disabled, a timing attack vulnerability exists, similar to previous Spectre attacks

Description

If hyperthreading is not disabled, a timing attack vulnerability exists, similar to previous Spectre attacks. Apple has shipped macOS 10.14.5 with an option to disable hyperthreading in applications running untrusted code in a thread through a new sysctl. Firefox now makes use of it on the main thread and any worker threads. *Note: users need to update to macOS 10.14.5 in order to take advantage of this change.*. This vulnerability affects Thunderbird < 60.7, Firefox < 67, and Firefox ESR < 60.7.

CVSS vector

CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Attack vector

Network

Complexity

High

Privileges

None

User interaction

None

Confidentiality

High

Integrity

High

Availability

High

Scope

Unchanged

Exploitation

Is it being used?

Exploit prediction (EPSS)1.8% · higher than 79% of CVEs

Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet

CISA KEVNot listed

Ransomware campaign useNot known

Affected products

Which versions

FI

Firefox · Mozilla

before 67.0 · source: NVD

FE

Firefox Esr · Mozilla

before 60.7 · source: NVD

TH

Thunderbird · Mozilla

before 60.7 · source: NVD