CVE-2023-4054

User-assisted code execution via omitted file warning

Published Aug 1, 2023 · Updated Oct 22, 2024

Improper file handling in Mozilla Firefox before 116 allows attackers to launch malicious ClickOnce code via an appref-ms file. Firefox ESR before 102.14 or 115.1 and Thunderbird before 102.14 or 115.1 share a file-handling list that omits the appref-ms extension, so opening a downloaded file invokes the Windows ClickOnce wizard without an executable-file warning. Exploitation requires a Windows user to open the crafted file, after which its referenced ClickOnce application can run with that user's privileges.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper file handling in Mozilla Firefox before 116 allows attackers to launch malicious ClickOnce code via an appref-ms file. Firefox ESR before 102.14 or 115.1 and Thunderbird before 102.14 or 115.1 share a file-handling list that omits the appref-ms extension, so opening a downloaded file invokes the Windows ClickOnce wizard without an executable-file warning. Exploitation requires a Windows user to open the crafted file, after which its referenced ClickOnce application can run with that user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-4054
Published
Aug 1, 2023
Updated
Oct 22, 2024
Vendor
Mozilla
Product
Firefox
Classifications
T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 1, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 22, 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 <116

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Mozilla · Firefoxversion=unspecified <116
Mozilla · Thunderbirdversion=unspecified <102.14; version=unspecified <115.1
Mozilla · Firefox ESRversion=unspecified <102.14; version=unspecified <115.1

Published CVSS scores

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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