File Extension Spoofing using the Text Direction Override Character
Priority LOW 34Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- None
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- —
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · High · None
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 14 fixed, 1 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat.
Summary
Thunderbird allowed the Text Direction Override Unicode Character in filenames. An email attachment could be incorrectly shown as being a document file, while in fact it was an executable file. Newer versions of Thunderbird will strip the character and show the correct file extension. This vulnerability affects Thunderbird < 115.0.1 and Thunderbird < 102.13.1.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00669 52nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Thunderbird (Mozilla): 115.0.1, 102.13.1Red Hat: 8 advisoriesRed Hat: 14 fixed, 1 without a fix
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Partial
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mozilla | Thunderbird | before 115.0.1 | 115.0.1 | Patch available | CNA |
| Mozilla | Thunderbird | before 102.13.1 | 102.13.1 | Patch available | CNA |
- Thunderbird VendorMozilla Affected before 115.0.1 Fixed in 115.0.1 Patch available CNA
- Thunderbird VendorMozilla Affected before 102.13.1 Fixed in 102.13.1 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 102.13.1; 115.0 to before 115.0.1 | Vulnerable | Mozilla |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 10.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 11.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
| cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 12.0 | Vulnerable | Debian |
- cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 102.13.1; 115.0 to before 115.0.1 Vulnerable ·Mozilla
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 10.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 11.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:12.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 12.0 Vulnerable ·Debian
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Thunderbird (Mozilla) Fixed in 115.0.1
- Fix · CNA Thunderbird (Mozilla) Fixed in 102.13.1
Red Hat 8 advisories
- RHSA-2023:4500 Released 2023-08-07 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.4) thunderbird-102.14.0-1.el8_4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.4) thunderbird-102.14.0-1.el8_4
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.4) thunderbird-102.14.0-1.el8_4
- RHSA-2023:4497 Released 2023-08-07 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 8) thunderbird-102.14.0-1.el8_8
- RHSA-2023:4499 Released 2023-08-07 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) thunderbird-102.14.0-1.el9_2
Show 5 more Red Hat advisories
- RHSA-2023:4495 Released 2023-08-07 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) thunderbird-102.14.0-1.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) thunderbird-102.14.0-1.el7_9
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) thunderbird-102.14.0-1.el7_9
- RHSA-2023:4496 Released 2023-08-07 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v. 8.2) thunderbird-102.14.0-1.el8_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.2) thunderbird-102.14.0-1.el8_2
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v. 8.2) thunderbird-102.14.0-1.el8_2
- RHSA-2023:4493 Released 2023-08-07 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.8.6) thunderbird-102.14.0-1.el8_6
- RHSA-2023:4494 Released 2023-08-07 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.0) thunderbird-102.14.0-1.el9_0
- RHSA-2023:4492 Released 2023-08-07 · Red Hat rating Importantthunderbird security update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.1) thunderbird-102.14.0-1.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-2023:4497 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream (v. 9) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4499 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v. 8.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4496 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream AUS (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4500 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.1) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4492 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v. 8.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4496 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream E4S (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4500 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.8.6) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4493 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream EUS (v.9.0) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4494 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v. 8.2) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4496 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux AppStream TUS (v.8.4) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4500 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Client (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4495 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4495 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 7) | Fixed | RHSA-2023:4495 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2023-3417
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-xpxg-5vmj-vx9g
References
More Mozilla Thunderbird 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-2023-3417 · CVE Program
- CVE-2023-3417 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-xpxg-5vmj-vx9g · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2023-3417 · 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