Out-of-bounds write in Mozilla Firefox ESR
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- 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. Impact type from CWE-787 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Mozilla developers reported memory safety bugs present in Firefox 91 and Firefox ESR 78.13. Some of these bugs showed evidence of memory corruption and we presume that with enough effort some of these could have been exploited to run arbitrary code. This vulnerability affects Firefox ESR < 78.14, Thunderbird < 78.14, and Firefox < 92.
Why it matters now
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 ESR | before 78.14 | 78.14 | Patch available | CNA |
| Mozilla | Thunderbird | before 78.14 | 78.14 | Patch available | CNA |
| Mozilla | Firefox | before 92 | 92 | Patch available | CNA |
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Firefox ESR (Mozilla) Fixed in 78.14
- Fix · CNA Thunderbird (Mozilla) Fixed in 78.14
- Fix · CNA Firefox (Mozilla) Fixed in 92
Red Hat 8 advisories
- RHSA-2021:3498 Released 2021-09-13 · Red Hat rating Importantfirefox security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) firefox-78.14.0-1.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) firefox-78.14.0-1.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) firefox-78.14.0-1.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) firefox-78.14.0-1.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) firefox-78.14.0-1.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) firefox-78.14.0-1.el7_9
- RHSA-2021:3499 Released 2021-09-13 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) thunderbird-78.14.0-1.el8_4
- RHSA-2021:3500 Released 2021-09-13 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 8.2) thunderbird-78.14.0-1.el8_2
Show 5 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2021:3497 Released 2021-09-13 · Red Hat rating Importantfirefox security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) firefox-78.14.0-1.el8_4
- RHSA-2021:3496 Released 2021-09-13 · Red Hat rating Importantfirefox security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 8.2) firefox-78.14.0-1.el8_2
- RHSA-2021:3494 Released 2021-09-13 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) thunderbird-78.14.0-1.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) thunderbird-78.14.0-1.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) thunderbird-78.14.0-1.el7_9
- RHSA-2021:3501 Released 2021-09-13 · Red Hat rating Importantfirefox security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 8.1) firefox-78.14.0-1.el8_1
- RHSA-2021:3495 Released 2021-09-13 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 8.1) thunderbird-78.14.0-1.el8_1
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
Mozilla Firefox 92
5 records Highest priority Priority MEDIUM 2 MEDIUM, 3 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2021-16094 Out-of-bounds write in Mozilla FirefoxPriority MEDIUM 40
- TI-2021-10609 Firefox for Android allowed navigations through the `intent://` protocol, which could be…Priority LOW 37
- TI-2021-16092 When delegating navigations to the operating system, Firefox would accept the `mk` scheme…Priority LOW 31
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Important. 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-2021:3497, RHSA-2021:3499 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 8.1) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:3495, RHSA-2021:3501 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v. 8.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:3496, RHSA-2021:3500 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:3494, RHSA-2021:3498 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:3498 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:3498 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:3494, RHSA-2021:3498 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:3494, RHSA-2021:3498 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2021:3498 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-38493
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-6rrw-rx8w-qx97
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-2021-38493 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-38493 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-6rrw-rx8w-qx97 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2021-38493 · 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