CVE-2021-29950Network attack vector

Secret-key exposure via failed OpenPGP cleanup

Published Jun 24, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Cleartext key exposure in Mozilla Thunderbird before 78.8.1 allows attackers to access unprotected OpenPGP secret-key material. RNP.jsm unlocks or unprotects a secret key before decryption, signing, or import, but error paths can skip the matching lock or protection call. The condition follows a failed cryptographic task; Mozilla does not specify how an attacker reaches the exposed process memory.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability0.85%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Cleartext key exposure in Mozilla Thunderbird before 78.8.1 allows attackers to access unprotected OpenPGP secret-key material. RNP.jsm unlocks or unprotects a secret key before decryption, signing, or import, but error paths can skip the matching lock or protection call. The condition follows a failed cryptographic task; Mozilla does not specify how an attacker reaches the exposed process memory.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-29950
Published
Jun 24, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Mozilla
Product
Thunderbird
Classifications
CWE-312
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 24, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <78.8.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Mozilla · Thunderbirdversion=unspecified <78.8.1

Published CVSS scores

7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
5.0NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-312Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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