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CVE-2021-23985

Status: ModifiedMedium (6.5)—

If an attacker is able to alter specific about:config values (for example malware running on the user's computer), the Devtools remote debugging feature could have been enabled in a way that was unnoticable to the user. This would have allowed a remote attacker (able to make a direct network connection to the victim) to monitor the user's browsing activity and (plaintext) network traffic. This was addressed by providing a visual cue when Devtools has an open network socket. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 87.

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

Affected technologies (1)

Mozilla — Firefox

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

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{
  "id": "CVE-2021-23985",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "cvssMetricV2": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "2.0",
          "baseScore": 4.3,
          "accessVector": "NETWORK",
          "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N",
          "authentication": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "NONE",
          "accessComplexity": "MEDIUM",
          "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "PARTIAL"
        },
        "acInsufInfo": false,
        "impactScore": 2.9,
        "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
        "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
        "exploitabilityScore": 8.6,
        "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
        "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
        "userInteractionRequired": true
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 6.5,
          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
          "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
          "integrityImpact": "NONE",
          "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 3.6,
        "exploitabilityScore": 2.8
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "security@mozilla.org",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "Mozilla",
          "product": "Firefox",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "lessThan": "87",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2021-03-31T14:15:19.267",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1659129",
      "tags": [
        "Issue Tracking",
        "Permissions Required",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security@mozilla.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-10/",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security@mozilla.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1659129",
      "tags": [
        "Issue Tracking",
        "Permissions Required",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-10/",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "NVD-CWE-Other"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "If an attacker is able to alter specific about:config values (for example malware running on the user's computer), the Devtools remote debugging feature could have been enabled in a way that was unnoticable to the user. This would have allowed a remote attacker (able to make a direct network connection to the victim) to monitor the user's browsing activity and (plaintext) network traffic. This was addressed by providing a visual cue when Devtools has an open network socket. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 87."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "Si un atacante puede ser capaz de alterar valores específicos de about:config (por ejemplo, malware que se ejecuta en la computadora del usuario), la funcionalidad de depuración remota de Devtools podría haber sido habilitada de una manera que el usuario no pudo notar.&#xa0;Esto habría permitido a un atacante remoto (capaz de establecer una conexión de red directa con la víctima) monitorear la actividad de navegación del usuario y el tráfico de la red (texto plano).&#xa0;Esto se solucionó al proporcionar una pista visual cuando Devtools presenta un conector de red abierto.&#xa0;Esta vulnerabilidad afecta a Firefox versiones anteriores a 87."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T03:39:06.880",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "3533FF74-0FD6-447B-9C37-D491D18EA529",
              "versionEndExcluding": "87.0"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "security@mozilla.org"
}