HSTS enforcement bypass via lost state
Published Dec 22, 2022 · Updated Apr 16, 2025
HSTS enforcement bypass in Mozilla Firefox for Android before 100 allows remote attackers to load HTTP content after saved HSTS state is lost. The browser's DataStorage persistence fails to write SiteSecurityServiceState.txt when the app is backgrounded or closed, so a later HTTP visit is not automatically redirected to HTTPS. Exploitation requires a user to revisit an HSTS-protected site after the state loss; an attacker positioned to serve or intercept HTTP traffic can then obtain plaintext content, while Mozilla reports no direct browser data modification or service interruption.
Summary
What happened
HSTS enforcement bypass in Mozilla Firefox for Android before 100 allows remote attackers to load HTTP content after saved HSTS state is lost. The browser's DataStorage persistence fails to write SiteSecurityServiceState.txt when the app is backgrounded or closed, so a later HTTP visit is not automatically redirected to HTTPS. Exploitation requires a user to revisit an HSTS-protected site after the state loss; an attacker positioned to serve or intercept HTTP traffic can then obtain plaintext content, while Mozilla reports no direct browser data modification or service interruption.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2022-29910
- Published
- Dec 22, 2022
- Updated
- Apr 16, 2025
- Vendor
- Mozilla
- Product
- Firefox
- Classifications
- T1557
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Dec 22, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Apr 16, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.
Exploitability
Present is not the same as exploitable
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Is a vulnerable build present?
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- Affected versionversion=unspecified <100
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What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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Attacks
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Technologies
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Your stack
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