Performing garbage collection on re-declared JavaScript variables resulted in a…
Priority MEDIUM 41Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 9 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
Performing garbage collection on re-declared JavaScript variables resulted in a user-after-poison, and a potentially exploitable crash. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 85, Thunderbird < 78.7, and Firefox ESR < 78.7.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.01289 70th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Firefox (Mozilla): 85Thunderbird (Mozilla): 78.7+1 more productRed Hat: 8 advisoriesRed Hat: 9 fixed, 1 without a fix
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mozilla | Firefox | before 85 | 85 | Patch available | CNA |
| Mozilla | Thunderbird | before 78.7 | 78.7 | Patch available | CNA |
| Mozilla | Firefox ESR | before 78.7 | 78.7 | Patch available | CNA |
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Firefox (Mozilla) Fixed in 85
- Fix · CNA Thunderbird (Mozilla) Fixed in 78.7
- Fix · CNA Firefox ESR (Mozilla) Fixed in 78.7
Red Hat 8 advisories
- RHSA-2021:0397 Released 2021-02-03 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 8.1) thunderbird-78.7.0-1.el8_1
- RHSA-2021:0298 Released 2021-01-28 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) thunderbird-78.7.0-1.el8_3
- RHSA-2021:0297 Released 2021-01-28 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) thunderbird-78.7.0-1.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) thunderbird-78.7.0-1.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) thunderbird-78.7.0-1.el7_9
Show 5 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2021:0299 Released 2021-01-28 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 8.2) thunderbird-78.7.0-1.el8_2
- RHSA-2021:0290 Released 2021-01-28 · Red Hat rating Importantfirefox security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) firefox-78.7.0-2.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) firefox-78.7.0-2.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) firefox-78.7.0-2.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) firefox-78.7.0-2.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) firefox-78.7.0-2.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) firefox-78.7.0-2.el7_9
- RHSA-2021:0288 Released 2021-01-27 · Red Hat rating Importantfirefox security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) firefox-78.7.0-2.el8_3
- RHSA-2021:0289 Released 2021-01-27 · Red Hat rating Importantfirefox security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 8.2) firefox-78.7.0-2.el8_2
- RHSA-2021:0285 Released 2021-01-27 · Red Hat rating Importantfirefox security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 8.1) firefox-78.7.0-2.el8_1
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6 | Affected | No fix planned: Out of support scope |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0288, RHSA-2021:0298 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 8.1) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0285, RHSA-2021:0397 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 8.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0289, RHSA-2021:0299 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0290, RHSA-2021:0297 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0290 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0290 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0290, RHSA-2021:0297 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0290, RHSA-2021:0297 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:0290 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-23960
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-qvw3-rf6g-2w3x
References
More Mozilla Firefox vulnerabilities
- TI-2024-08981 Use after free in Mozilla Firefox KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2022-09832 Use after free in Mozilla Firefox KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.6
- TI-2019-08769 Improper input validation in Mozilla Firefox ESR KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 10.0
- TI-2010-03577 Mozilla Firefox 3.5.x through 3.5.14 and 3.6.x through 3.6.11, Thunderbird 3.1.6 before… KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2023-04799 Out-of-bounds write in Google Chrome KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2023-04477 Out-of-bounds write in Google Chrome KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2021-23960 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-23960 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-qvw3-rf6g-2w3x · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-23960 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences