CVE-2022-36314Public exploit

NTLM credential disclosure via downloaded shortcut handling

Published Dec 22, 2022 · Updated Apr 15, 2025

Shortcut handling in Mozilla Firefox before 103, Firefox ESR before 102.1, and Thunderbird before 102.1 allows attackers to capture NTLM hashes. The Downloads API preserves a downloaded .lnk extension, allowing Windows Explorer to resolve an attacker-controlled IconLocation path and initiate authentication. The target must download the shortcut locally and open its folder or the shortcut; the resulting network request can disclose the NTLM hash.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.22%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Shortcut handling in Mozilla Firefox before 103, Firefox ESR before 102.1, and Thunderbird before 102.1 allows attackers to capture NTLM hashes. The Downloads API preserves a downloaded .lnk extension, allowing Windows Explorer to resolve an attacker-controlled IconLocation path and initiate authentication. The target must download the shortcut locally and open its folder or the shortcut; the resulting network request can disclose the NTLM hash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-36314
Published
Dec 22, 2022
Updated
Apr 15, 2025
Vendor
Mozilla
Product
Firefox
Classifications
CWE-427, T1187, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 22, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 15, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <103

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Mozilla · Firefoxversion=unspecified <103
Mozilla · Thunderbirdversion=unspecified <102.1
Mozilla · Firefox ESRversion=unspecified <102.1

Published CVSS scores

5.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
5.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/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.

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No observations available

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1187Forced Authentication
T1204.002Malicious File

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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