# CVE-2023-29541: Code injection in Firefox

> Attackers can execute arbitrary commands on Linux systems by tricking users into downloading malicious .desktop files via Firefox.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 2 Jun 2023
- **Updated:** 10 Jan 2025
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2023-29541, GHSA-wm65-g4q2-jh7c, UBUNTU-CVE-2023-29541

## What is CVE-2023-29541?

CVE-2023-29541 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox, published on 2 Jun 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Firefox did not properly handle downloads of files ending in <code>.desktop</code>, which can be interpreted to run attacker-controlled commands. <br>*This bug only affects Firefox for Linux on certain Distributions. Other operating systems are unaffected, and Mozilla is unable to enumerate all affected Linux Distributions.*. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 112, Focus for Android < 112, Firefox ESR < 102.10, Firefox for Android < 112, and Thunderbird < 102.10.

Weakness: CWE-116 (Improper Encoding or Escaping of Output)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-29541?

It affects 5 products.


Products: Mozilla Firefox, Mozilla Firefox Esr, Mozilla Firefox Mobile, Mozilla Focus, Mozilla Thunderbird.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-29541?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2023-29541 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-29541 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-2023-29541 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-29541 is a high-severity code injection vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox, published on 2 Jun 2023. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2023-29541 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-2023-29541/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29541/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-29541
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-29541
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-29541

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29541/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.