Arbitrary file read via unchecked process allocation
Published Jun 2, 2023 · Updated Dec 18, 2025
Information disclosure in Mozilla Firefox before 109 allows remote attackers to read local files after compromising a web child process. DocumentLoadListener failed to validate history loads against the triggering remote type, allowing the child to spawn a file-context process. Exploitation requires a reliable renderer exploit and a second compromise of the new process; access reads files but does not write them or install malware.
Summary
What happened
Information disclosure in Mozilla Firefox before 109 allows remote attackers to read local files after compromising a web child process. DocumentLoadListener failed to validate history loads against the triggering remote type, allowing the child to spawn a file-context process. Exploitation requires a reliable renderer exploit and a second compromise of the new process; access reads files but does not write them or install malware.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2023-23597
- Published
- Jun 2, 2023
- Updated
- Dec 18, 2025
- Vendor
- Mozilla
- Product
- Firefox
- Classifications
- CWE-326, T1068
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 2, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Dec 18, 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.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <109
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- Mozilla Bug 1538028 exploitation stepsproof of concept · unverified
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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