Firefox versions 1.0.1 and 1.0.2 contain the vulnerability, the security information company said in an advisory on Monday. The flaw stems from an error in the JavaScript engine that can expose arbitrary amounts of heap memory after the end of a JavaScript string. As a result, an exploit may disclose sensitive information in the memory, Secunia said.
"Unlike other browser flaws, this one is not subject to phishing or access to the system. But it can expose sensitive information from other Web sites you visited and the information you entered there," said Thomas Kristensen, Secunia chief technology officer.
While the flaw is only rated as "moderately critical" by Secunia, the rapid adoption of the open-source browser means that many users may be at risk. Prior to the release of version 1.0, downloads of earlier versions of the browser had reached 8 million within the first 18 months.
