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CVE-2021-38508

Status: ModifiedMedium (4.3)—

By displaying a form validity message in the correct location at the same time as a permission prompt (such as for geolocation), the validity message could have obscured the prompt, resulting in the user potentially being tricked into granting the permission. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 94, Thunderbird < 91.3, and Firefox ESR < 91.3.

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 (4)

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

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{
  "id": "CVE-2021-38508",
  "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:N/I:P/A:N",
          "authentication": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "PARTIAL",
          "accessComplexity": "MEDIUM",
          "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "NONE"
        },
        "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": 4.3,
          "attackVector": "NETWORK",
          "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:L/A:N",
          "integrityImpact": "LOW",
          "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "NONE"
        },
        "impactScore": 1.4,
        "exploitabilityScore": 2.8
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "security@mozilla.org",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "Mozilla",
          "product": "Firefox",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "lessThan": "94",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Mozilla",
          "product": "Thunderbird",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "lessThan": "91.3",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ]
        },
        {
          "vendor": "Mozilla",
          "product": "Firefox ESR",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "lessThan": "91.3",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2021-12-08T22:15:09.000",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1366818",
      "tags": [
        "Issue Tracking",
        "Permissions Required",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security@mozilla.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/12/msg00030.html",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security@mozilla.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/01/msg00001.html",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security@mozilla.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202202-03",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security@mozilla.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-14",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security@mozilla.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-5026",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security@mozilla.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.debian.org/security/2022/dsa-5034",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security@mozilla.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-48/",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security@mozilla.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-49/",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security@mozilla.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-50/",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "security@mozilla.org"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1366818",
      "tags": [
        "Issue Tracking",
        "Permissions Required",
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/12/msg00030.html",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2022/01/msg00001.html",
      "tags": [
        "Mailing List",
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202202-03",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-14",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-5026",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.debian.org/security/2022/dsa-5034",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-48/",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-49/",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-50/",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-1021"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "By displaying a form validity message in the correct location at the same time as a permission prompt (such as for geolocation), the validity message could have obscured the prompt, resulting in the user potentially being tricked into granting the permission. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 94, Thunderbird < 91.3, and Firefox ESR < 91.3."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "Al mostrar un mensaje de comprobación del formulario en la ubicación correcta al mismo tiempo que una solicitud de permiso (como para la geolocalización), el mensaje de comprobación podría haber ocultado la solicitud, resultando en que el usuario podría ser engañado para conceder el permiso. Esta vulnerabilidad afecta a Firefox versiones anteriores a 94, Thunderbird versiones anteriores a 91.3 y Firefox ESR versiones anteriores a 91.3"
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T04:02:15.103",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "A22FDA8A-B862-4383-9C8E-C162713AB01B",
              "versionEndExcluding": "94.0"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox_esr:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "DEA65EE6-233C-4CC1-83E8-316748943DAF",
              "versionEndExcluding": "91.3.0"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "65E19CA9-5FDF-4253-8D56-FD82239F7D93",
              "versionEndExcluding": "91.3.0"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
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              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "DEECE5FC-CACF-4496-A3E7-164736409252"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "07B237A9-69A3-4A9C-9DA0-4E06BD37AE73"
            },
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:11.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "FA6FEEC2-9F11-4643-8827-749718254FED"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
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  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "security@mozilla.org"
}