# CVE-2017-7821: Other in Firefox

> WebExtensions can silently download and open non-executable files, potentially triggering vulnerabilities in associated applications to execute code.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 11 Jun 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rg79-6j3q-wm5h, UBUNTU-CVE-2017-7821

## What is CVE-2017-7821?

CVE-2017-7821 is a critical vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox, published on 11 Jun 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability where WebExtensions can download and attempt to open a file of some non-executable file types. This can be triggered without specific user interaction for the file download and open actions. This could be used to trigger known vulnerabilities in the programs that handle those document types. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 56.

Weakness: CWE-732 (Incorrect Permission Assignment for Critical Resource)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-7821?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Mozilla Firefox.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-7821?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2017-7821 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-7821 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Mozilla Firefox

- [CVE-2019-11708](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-11708/): Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird Sandbox Escape (critical 10.0, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2010-3765](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-3765/): Mozilla Multiple Products Remote Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-26486](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-26486/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (critical 9.6, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2022-26485](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-26485/): Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-11707](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-11707/): Mozilla Firefox and Thunderbird Type Confusion (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-7821 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-7821 is a critical vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox, published on 11 Jun 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2017-7821 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Mozilla Firefox. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7821/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7821/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-7821
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-7821
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-7821

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-7821/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.