CVE-2023-5728Network attack vector

Application crash via stale WeakRef tracking

Published Oct 24, 2023 · Updated Feb 13, 2025

Improper object tracking in Firefox before 119, Firefox ESR before 115.4, and Thunderbird before 115.4.1 allows remote attackers to crash. When a WeakRef target is cleared, FinalizationObservers leaves its cross-compartment wrapper in weakRefMap, so a later garbage-collection validity check encounters a dead wrapper. Triggering requires crafted JavaScript that manipulates cross-compartment WeakRef targets; the demonstrated consequence is a segmentation-fault crash.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability1.18%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper object tracking in Firefox before 119, Firefox ESR before 115.4, and Thunderbird before 115.4.1 allows remote attackers to crash. When a WeakRef target is cleared, FinalizationObservers leaves its cross-compartment wrapper in weakRefMap, so a later garbage-collection validity check encounters a dead wrapper. Triggering requires crafted JavaScript that manipulates cross-compartment WeakRef targets; the demonstrated consequence is a segmentation-fault crash.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-5728
Published
Oct 24, 2023
Updated
Feb 13, 2025
Vendor
Mozilla
Product
Firefox
Classifications
CWE-416, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 24, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 13, 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 <119

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Mozilla · Firefoxversion=unspecified <119
Mozilla · Thunderbirdversion=unspecified <115.4.1
Mozilla · Firefox ESRversion=unspecified <115.4

Published CVSS scores

7.5NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
7.5CISA-ADPCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

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 exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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