CVE-2021-43543
Medium · 6.1CVSS
6.1
EPSS
1.5%
Published
Dec 8, 2021
CISA due date
—
Cloudanix analysis
Older versions of Firefox and Thunderbird contain a flaw that lets certain web pages run scripts they should be blocked from running, which could put user information at risk.
- Exploitation
- Requires User Interaction
- Attacker needs
- User Interaction
- Complexity
- Low
- Impact
- Data Exposure
- Component
- Application
- Class
- XSS
- Remediation
- Upgrade
- Effort
- Medium
- Patch risk
- Low
What it actually does
The flaw permits documents subject to a CSP sandbox directive to bypass the sandbox's script execution restrictions through embedding of additional content, resulting in unintended script execution within the isolated context.
Why it matters to the business
Older browser and email client deployments remain exposed to script injection risks that could lead to unauthorized access to user data, session compromise, or phishing escalation, increasing operational and compliance exposure until upgrades are completed.
How an attack unfolds
An attacker hosts or delivers a page that applies a CSP sandbox directive, then includes specially crafted embedded content designed to escape the script restriction, causing the victim's browser to execute attacker-controlled scripts despite the sandbox policy.
How to fix it
Upgrade Firefox to version 95 or later, Firefox ESR to 91.4.0 or later, and Thunderbird to 91.4.0 or later. Apply the updates through the product's built-in updater or distribution package manager and verify the new version string.
How to confirm the fix worked
Inspect the about:support page or application version string on each endpoint to confirm the installed release meets or exceeds the fixed versions; retest any internal pages that previously relied on CSP sandbox to ensure script restrictions are enforced.
Typical attack path
- Identify or create a target site or email that loads user-controlled content under CSP sandbox
- Embed additional markup or resources that trigger the sandbox escape
- Deliver the content to the victim via phishing, compromised site, or malicious attachment
- Trigger rendering in an affected Mozilla product to execute scripts outside sandbox boundaries
How to detect it
Review browser console logs and CSP violation reports for unexpected script execution originating from sandboxed contexts; correlate with web proxy or email client logs showing access to pages that declare sandbox directives.
What your security team should do
- Prioritize immediate rollout of the fixed versions across all managed endpoints given the multi-year exposure window
- Audit CSP headers on internal and partner sites that use sandbox directives
- Enable browser update enforcement policies and monitor enterprise update compliance dashboards
- Review email rendering configurations in Thunderbird deployments for any custom sandbox usage
The record
Documents loaded with the CSP sandbox directive could have escaped the sandbox's script restriction by embedding additional content. This vulnerability affects Thunderbird < 91.4.0, Firefox ESR < 91.4.0, and Firefox < 95.
Affected packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Introduced | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux:8 | firefox | 0 | 91.4.0-1.el8_5.alma |
| AlmaLinux:8 | thunderbird | 0 | 91.4.0-2.el8_5.alma |
| AlmaLinux:8 | thunderbird | 0 | 91.4.0-2.el8_5.alma.plus |
| Debian:10 | thunderbird | 0 | 1:91.4.1-1~deb10u1 |
| Debian:11 | firefox-esr | 0 | 91.4.1esr-1~deb11u1 |
| Debian:11 | thunderbird | 0 | 1:91.4.1-1~deb11u1 |
| Debian:12 | firefox-esr | 0 | 91.4.0esr-1 |
| Debian:12 | thunderbird | 0 | 1:91.4.0-1 |
| Debian:13 | firefox-esr | 0 | 91.4.0esr-1 |
| Debian:13 | thunderbird | 0 | 1:91.4.0-1 |
| Debian:9 | firefox-esr | 0 | 91.4.1esr-1~deb9u1 |
| Debian:9 | thunderbird | 0 | 1:91.4.1-1~deb9u1 |
| Mageia:8 | firefox | 0 | 91.4.0-1.mga8 |
| Mageia:8 | firefox-l10n | 0 | 91.4.0-1.mga8 |
| Mageia:8 | thunderbird | 0 | 91.4.0-1.mga8 |
| Mageia:8 | thunderbird-l10n | 0 | 91.4.0-1.mga8 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | firefox | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el7_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | firefox-debuginfo | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el7_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | thunderbird | 0 | 0:91.4.0-3.el7_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | thunderbird-debuginfo | 0 | 0:91.4.0-3.el7_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | firefox | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el7_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | firefox-debuginfo | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el7_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | thunderbird | 0 | 0:91.4.0-3.el7_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | thunderbird-debuginfo | 0 | 0:91.4.0-3.el7_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation | firefox | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el7_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation | firefox-debuginfo | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el7_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation | thunderbird | 0 | 0:91.4.0-3.el7_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation | thunderbird-debuginfo | 0 | 0:91.4.0-3.el7_9 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | firefox | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el8_5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | firefox-debuginfo | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el8_5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | firefox-debugsource | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el8_5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | thunderbird | 0 | 0:91.4.0-2.el8_5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | thunderbird-debuginfo | 0 | 0:91.4.0-2.el8_5 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:8::appstream | thunderbird-debugsource | 0 | 0:91.4.0-2.el8_5 |
| Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.1::appstream | firefox | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el8_1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.1::appstream | firefox-debuginfo | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el8_1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.1::appstream | firefox-debugsource | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el8_1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.1::appstream | thunderbird | 0 | 0:91.4.0-2.el8_1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.1::appstream | thunderbird-debuginfo | 0 | 0:91.4.0-2.el8_1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_e4s:8.1::appstream | thunderbird-debugsource | 0 | 0:91.4.0-2.el8_1 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.2::appstream | firefox | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el8_2 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.2::appstream | firefox-debuginfo | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el8_2 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.2::appstream | firefox-debugsource | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el8_2 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.2::appstream | thunderbird | 0 | 0:91.4.0-2.el8_2 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.2::appstream | thunderbird-debuginfo | 0 | 0:91.4.0-2.el8_2 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.2::appstream | thunderbird-debugsource | 0 | 0:91.4.0-2.el8_2 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.4::appstream | firefox | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el8_4 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.4::appstream | firefox-debuginfo | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el8_4 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.4::appstream | firefox-debugsource | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el8_4 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.4::appstream | thunderbird | 0 | 0:91.4.0-2.el8_4 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.4::appstream | thunderbird-debuginfo | 0 | 0:91.4.0-2.el8_4 |
| Red Hat:rhel_eus:8.4::appstream | thunderbird-debugsource | 0 | 0:91.4.0-2.el8_4 |
| Rocky Linux:8 | firefox | 0 | 0:91.4.0-1.el8_5 |
| Rocky Linux:8 | thunderbird | 0 | 0:91.4.0-2.el8_5 |
| SUSE:Enterprise Storage 6 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-150.9.1 |
| SUSE:HPE Helion OpenStack 8 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-112.83.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-ESPOS | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-150.9.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15 SP1-LTSS | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-150.9.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15-ESPOS | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-150.9.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise High Performance Computing 15-LTSS | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-150.9.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Desktop Applications 15 SP2 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-152.9.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Desktop Applications 15 SP3 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-152.9.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4-LTSS | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-78.154.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP2-BCL | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-112.83.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3-BCL | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-112.83.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP3-LTSS | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-112.83.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP4-LTSS | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-112.83.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 12 SP5 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-112.83.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-BCL | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-150.9.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1-LTSS | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-150.9.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 15-LTSS | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-150.9.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP3 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-112.83.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP4 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-112.83.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 12 SP5 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-112.83.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-150.9.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 15 SP1 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-150.9.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 12 SP5 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-112.83.1 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP2 | MozillaThunderbird | 0 | 91.4.0-8.45.2 |
| SUSE:Linux Enterprise Workstation Extension 15 SP3 | MozillaThunderbird | 0 | 91.4.0-8.45.2 |
| SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 8 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-112.83.1 |
| SUSE:OpenStack Cloud 9 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-112.83.1 |
| SUSE:OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 8 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-112.83.1 |
| SUSE:OpenStack Cloud Crowbar 9 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-112.83.1 |
| Ubuntu:18.04:LTS | firefox | 0 | 95.0+build1-0ubuntu0.18.04.1 |
| Ubuntu:18.04:LTS | mozjs38 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:18.04:LTS | mozjs52 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:18.04:LTS | thunderbird | 0 | 1:91.5.0+build1-0ubuntu0.18.04.1 |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | firefox | 0 | 95.0+build1-0ubuntu0.20.04.1 |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | mozjs52 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | mozjs68 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:20.04:LTS | thunderbird | 0 | 1:91.5.0+build1-0ubuntu0.20.04.1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | firefox | 0 | 95.0+build1-0ubuntu1 |
| Ubuntu:22.04:LTS | mozjs78 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS | mozjs38 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS | mozjs52 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS | mozjs52 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS | mozjs68 | 0 | No fix |
| Ubuntu:Pro:22.04:LTS | mozjs78 | 0 | No fix |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-lp152.2.74.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.2 | MozillaThunderbird | 0 | 91.4.0-lp152.2.52.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 91.4.0-152.9.1 |
| openSUSE:Leap 15.3 | MozillaThunderbird | 0 | 91.4.0-8.45.2 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | MozillaFirefox | 0 | 95.0-1.1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | MozillaThunderbird | 0 | 91.4.0-1.1 |
| openSUSE:Tumbleweed | firefox-esr | 0 | 128.5.1-1.1 |
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