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Chrome CVE-2012-3993

CRITICAL
Improper Privilege Management (CWE-269)
2012-10-10 cve@mitre.org
Privilege Escalation Chrome Google Mozilla Firefox Seamonkey Thunderbird Thunderbird Esr
9.3
CVSS 2.0 · NVD
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Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
CWE-269
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Least privilege enforcement
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

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Impact

CVSS score of 9.3 (CRITICAL). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, M complexity. Public proof-of-concept exploit code is available. EPSS exploitation probability: 80.84%.
Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could escalate privileges to gain unauthorized elevated access by sending crafted requests to the affected application.
Emergency Immediate action required. Why: CRITICAL + EPSS > 30%, no patch available.
No patch listed yet 80.8% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

The Chrome Object Wrapper (COW) implementation in Mozilla Firefox before 16.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.8, Thunderbird before 16.0, Thunderbird ESR 10.x before 10.0.8, and SeaMonkey before 2.13. Rated critical severity (CVSS 9.3), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable. Public exploit code available and EPSS exploitation probability 80.8%.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Apply principle of least privilege, validate privilege transitions, implement proper role separation.

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Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Improper Privilege Management (CWE-269), which allows attackers to escalate privileges to gain unauthorized elevated access. The Chrome Object Wrapper (COW) implementation in Mozilla Firefox before 16.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.8, Thunderbird before 16.0, Thunderbird ESR 10.x before 10.0.8, and SeaMonkey before 2.13 does not properly interact with failures of InstallTrigger methods, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code with chrome privileges via a crafted web site, related to an "XrayWrapper pollution" issue. Affected products include: Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Thunderbird Esr, Mozilla Thunderbird, Mozilla Seamonkey. Version information: before 16.0.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 9.3 CRITICAL
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
M
Confidentiality
C
Integrity
C
Availability
C

DescriptionCVE.org

The Chrome Object Wrapper (COW) implementation in Mozilla Firefox before 16.0, Firefox ESR 10.x before 10.0.8, Thunderbird before 16.0, Thunderbird ESR 10.x before 10.0.8, and SeaMonkey before 2.13 does not properly interact with failures of InstallTrigger methods, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code with chrome privileges via a crafted web site, related to an "XrayWrapper pollution" issue.

Threat Intelligence Overview

Threat Score
5.8/10
Composite threat intelligence
EPSS Score
80.8%
Top 1% exploitable
Exploit
POC
Public exploit code exists
Data Quality
5 sources
Confidence: Medium
NVD CVE.org EPSS POC (1) Exploit-DB

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity CRITICAL
CISA KEV No
Public POC Yes
EPSS 80.8%
Patch available No
Active threat Yes
Deciding rule
CRITICAL + EPSS > 30%, no patch available
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Out-of-Cycle
Exploitation· derived
Active
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
High

Priority Score

162
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +81
CVSS: +46
PoC: +20
Weaponized: +15
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Privilege Escalation HIGH

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.

Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org

cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:10.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:10.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:10.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:10.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:10.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:10.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:10.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird_esr:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird_esr:10.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird_esr:10.0.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird_esr:10.0.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird_esr:10.0.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird_esr:10.0.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird_esr:10.0.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird_esr:10.0.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:1.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:1.0:preview_release:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox:1.0.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
+ 359 more

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Same weakness CWE-269 – Improper Privilege Management

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Same technique Privilege Escalation

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References

Advisories & patches
ADVISORY http://www.mozilla.org/security/announce/2012/mfsa2012-83.html ADVISORY https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=768101 REF http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2012-10/msg00010.html REF http://osvdb.org/86111 REF http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2012-1351.html REF http://secunia.com/advisories/50856 REF http://secunia.com/advisories/50892 REF http://secunia.com/advisories/50904 REF http://secunia.com/advisories/50935 REF http://secunia.com/advisories/50936 REF http://secunia.com/advisories/50984 REF http://secunia.com/advisories/55318 REF http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2012:163 REF http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/56119 REF http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-1611-1 REF https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/79153 REF https://oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval%3Aorg.mitre.oval%3Adef%3A16718

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