Heap-based buffer overflow in a regular-expression parser in Mozilla Network Security Services (NSS) before 3.12.3, as used in Firefox, Thun
Heap-based buffer overflow in a regular-expression parser in Mozilla Network Security Services (NSS) before 3.12.3, as used in Firefox, Thunderbird, SeaMonkey, Evolution, Pidgin, and AOL Instant Messenger (AIM), allows remote SSL servers to cause a denial of service (application crash) or possibly execute arbitrary code via a long domain name in the subject's Common Name (CN) field of an X.509 certificate, related to the cert_TestHostName function.
- Published
- Aug 3, 2009
- Updated
- Jun 16, 2026
- EPSS
- 4.2% · 91th percentile
- CWE
- CWE-119
Sign in to follow · You’ll be notified if a followed record enters KEV, gets an exploit or is updated.
Report tools
Action score
38
Monitor
Low priority for now.
- CVSS
- 37 / 40 · 9.3 / 10
- CISA KEV
- 0 / 30 · Not listed
- EPSS
- 1 / 30 · 4.2%
Noroxi analysis
No Noroxi analysis for this record yet
We don't hand-write analysis for the hundreds of thousands of vulnerabilities in the database; that wouldn't be honest. For notable, high-impact vulnerabilities our team writes the mechanism, detection and remediation steps.
We use this product, ask for helpAffected systems
| Vendor | Product | CPE |
|---|---|---|
| mozilla | network security services | cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:network_security_services |
| mozilla | firefox | cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:firefox |
| mozilla | seamonkey | cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:seamonkey |
| mozilla | thunderbird | cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird |
| aol | instant messenger | cpe:2.3:a:aol:instant_messenger |
| gnome | evolution | cpe:2.3:a:gnome:evolution |
| pidgin | pidgin | cpe:2.3:a:pidgin:pidgin |
Affected versions
NVD version ranges (for catalog products). Add the product to your stack with a version and matching uses these.
- mozilla network security services3.12.3
Package-level exposure
OSV and GitHub Advisory data: ecosystem, package and range. SBOM matching uses this table.
| Ecosystem | Package | Affected range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian:12 | nss | before 3.12.3-1 | 3.12.3-1 |
| Debian:5.0 | icedove | before 2.0.0.24-0lenny1 | 2.0.0.24-0lenny1 |
| Debian:5.0 | nss | before 3.12.3.1-0lenny1 | 3.12.3.1-0lenny1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | seamonkey | before 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | seamonkey-chat | before 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | seamonkey-debuginfo | before 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | seamonkey-devel | before 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | seamonkey-dom-inspector | before 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | seamonkey-js-debugger | before 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | seamonkey-mail | before 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | seamonkey-nspr | before 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | seamonkey-nspr-devel | before 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | seamonkey-nss | before 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | seamonkey-nss-devel | before 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | nspr | before 0:4.7.4-1.el4_8.1 | 0:4.7.4-1.el4_8.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | nspr-debuginfo | before 0:4.7.4-1.el4_8.1 | 0:4.7.4-1.el4_8.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | nspr-devel | before 0:4.7.4-1.el4_8.1 | 0:4.7.4-1.el4_8.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | nss | before 0:3.12.3.99.3-1.el4_8.2 | 0:3.12.3.99.3-1.el4_8.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | nss-debuginfo | before 0:3.12.3.99.3-1.el4_8.2 | 0:3.12.3.99.3-1.el4_8.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | nss-devel | before 0:3.12.3.99.3-1.el4_8.2 | 0:3.12.3.99.3-1.el4_8.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | nss-tools | before 0:3.12.3.99.3-1.el4_8.2 | 0:3.12.3.99.3-1.el4_8.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client | nss-tools | before 0:3.12.3.99.3-1.el5_3.2 | 0:3.12.3.99.3-1.el5_3.2 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | nspr | before 0:4.7.4-1.el5_3.1 | 0:4.7.4-1.el5_3.1 |
| Red Hat:enterprise_linux:5::client_workstation | nspr-debuginfo | before 0:4.7.4-1.el5_3.1 | 0:4.7.4-1.el5_3.1 |
+19
Same product
mozilla: all recordsOther highest-scoring records for the same primary product.
- CVE-2017-5461Mozilla Network Security Services (NSS) before 3.21.4, 3.22.x through 3.28.x before 3.28.4, 3.29.x before 3.29.5, and 3.30.x before 3.30.1 a40Plan
- CVE-2018-12404A cached side channel attack during handshakes using RSA encryption could allow for the decryption of encrypted content.36Monitor
- CVE-2016-2834Mozilla Network Security Services (NSS) before 3.23, as used in Mozilla Firefox before 47.0, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of se36Monitor
- CVE-2016-1950Heap-based buffer overflow in Mozilla Network Security Services (NSS) before 3.19.2.3 and 3.20.x and 3.21.x before 3.21.1, as used in Mozill36Monitor
- CVE-2015-7181The sec_asn1d_parse_leaf function in Mozilla Network Security Services (NSS) before 3.19.2.1 and 3.20.x before 3.20.1, as used in Firefox be32Monitor
- CVE-2020-25648A flaw was found in the way NSS handled CCS (ChangeCipherSpec) messages in TLS 1.3.31Monitor
Remediation
Which version to upgrade to
Fix versions compiled from the vendor, package registries and Microsoft. Verify the vendor's note before upgrading.
| Product / package | Fixed version | Source |
|---|---|---|
| debian:icedove | 2.0.0.24-0lenny1 · Debian:5.0 | Package registry (OSV) |
| debian:nss | 3.12.3-1 · Debian:12 | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nspr | 0:4.7.4-1.el4_8.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nspr-debuginfo | 0:4.7.4-1.el4_8.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nspr-devel | 0:4.7.4-1.el4_8.1 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nss | 0:3.12.3.99.3-1.el4_8.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nss-debuginfo | 0:3.12.3.99.3-1.el4_8.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nss-devel | 0:3.12.3.99.3-1.el4_8.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:nss-tools | 0:3.12.3.99.3-1.el4_8.2 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:4::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:seamonkey | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:seamonkey-chat | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:seamonkey-debuginfo | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:seamonkey-devel | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | Package registry (OSV) |
| red hat:seamonkey-dom-inspector | 0:1.0.9-0.41.el3 · Red Hat:enterprise_linux:3::as | Package registry (OSV) |
Exploit status
No known public exploit
No public exploit has been observed yet. That doesn't mean you're safe, only that the bar is a little higher.
Research context
For pentesters and researchers: attack profile, score disagreement, timeline, patch commits, credits, variant and chain candidates, bug bounty scope. All derived from existing data; no exploit code.
Timeline
From publication to today: proof of concept, Metasploit module, CISA KEV and fix record. Dates are as reported by the sources.
No dated events beyond publication.
FIRST EPSS daily score; only changes of 0.01 or more are recorded (step chart).
Patch and commit links
Commit, PR and diff links among the references. A starting point for patch-diffing and variant hunting; fixes, not exploits.
No commit or PR link among the references.
Credits
All researchersFinders, reporters and analysts named in the CNA record. Click a name for that researcher’s other records.
No credits in the CNA record.
Variant candidates
Same product, same weakness class, within 18 months. If the patch missed the root cause, the sibling bug is here.
No nightly-computed relations.
Chain candidates
An authentication bypass and a privilege-requiring bug in the same product, published close together: combined they may become an unauthenticated path.
—
Bug bounty scope
No known public program.
Source: bounty-targets-data (public HackerOne, Bugcrowd, Intigriti, YesWeHack listings).
Technical details
Attack conditions
If successful
- Confidentiality
- C · data can be read
- Integrity
- C · data or configuration can be modified
- Availability
- C · the service can be disrupted
- Attack complexity
- M
- Confidentiality impact
- C
- Integrity impact
- C
- Availability impact
- C
Weakness class (CWE)
CWE-119 · Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory BufferCVSS vector
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
nvd-primary
Attack context
MITRE CAPEC attack patterns and ATT&CK techniques for this weakness class (CWE). A starting point for detection rules and threat hunting.
Attack patterns (CAPEC)
- Buffer Overflow via Environment VariablesCAPEC-10likelihood: High · High
- Overflow BuffersCAPEC-100likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer ManipulationCAPEC-123likelihood: High · Very High
- Client-side Injection-induced Buffer OverflowCAPEC-14likelihood: Medium · High
- Filter Failure through Buffer OverflowCAPEC-24likelihood: High · High
- MIME ConversionCAPEC-42likelihood: High · High
- Overflow Binary Resource FileCAPEC-44likelihood: High · Very High
- Buffer Overflow via Symbolic LinksCAPEC-45likelihood: High · High
ATT&CK techniques
—
Change log
- Fix✗ → ✓
For records you follow, these changes also arrive as notifications. →
References
- rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2009-1185.html
- secunia.com/advisories/36088
- secunia.com/advisories/36102
- secunia.com/advisories/36125
- secunia.com/advisories/36139
- secunia.com/advisories/36157
- secunia.com/advisories/36434
- secunia.com/advisories/37098
- secunia.com/advisories/39428
- sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-66-273910-1
- sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-77-1021030.1-1
- sunsolve.sun.com/search/document.do?assetkey=1-77-1021699.1-1
- www.blackhat.com/presentations/bh-usa-09/MARLINSPIKE/BHUSA09-Marlinspike-DefeatSSL-SLIDES.pdf
- www.debian.org/security/2009/dsa-1874
- www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:197
- www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2009:216
- www.mozilla.org/security/announce/2009/mfsa2009-43.html
- www.novell.com/linux/security/advisories/2009_48_firefox.html
- www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/cpuapr2010-099504.html
- www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2009-1207.html
Vendor advisories and official records. Exploit/PoC links are deliberately left out.