CVE-2021-38507Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Cross-port TLS content disclosure via cached opt-in

Published Dec 8, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Origin validation error in Firefox before 94 and Firefox ESR and Thunderbird before 91.3 allows remote attackers to read cross-port TLS content. The HTTP/2 Opportunistic Encryption implementation checks a .well-known opt-in only on the first alternative-service connection, then reuses that result for later TLS ports. Exploitation requires user navigation plus an active network attacker able to manipulate DNS and forward connections, exposing content served by another encrypted port.

CVSS severity6.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.80%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Origin validation error in Firefox before 94 and Firefox ESR and Thunderbird before 91.3 allows remote attackers to read cross-port TLS content. The HTTP/2 Opportunistic Encryption implementation checks a .well-known opt-in only on the first alternative-service connection, then reuses that result for later TLS ports. Exploitation requires user navigation plus an active network attacker able to manipulate DNS and forward connections, exposing content served by another encrypted port.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-38507
Published
Dec 8, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Mozilla
Product
Firefox
Classifications
CWE-346, T1557
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 8, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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 <94

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Mozilla · Firefoxversion=unspecified <94
Mozilla · Thunderbirdversion=unspecified <91.3
Mozilla · Firefox ESRversion=unspecified <91.3

Published CVSS scores

4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N
6.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-346Origin Validation Error
T1557Adversary-in-the-Middle

Public exploit references

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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