CVE-2020-15680 : What You Need to Know

A vulnerability in Firefox version less than 82 allowed attackers to probe the presence of external protocol handlers through image tags.

Understanding CVE-2020-15680

This CVE involves a security issue in Firefox that could be exploited by attackers to determine the presence of external protocol handlers.

What is CVE-2020-15680?

If a valid external protocol handler was referenced in an image tag in Firefox version less than 82, attackers could distinguish between broken image sizes, enabling them to probe the registration of external protocol handlers.

The Impact of CVE-2020-15680

This vulnerability could be exploited by malicious actors to gather information about the presence of external protocol handlers, potentially aiding in further attacks or reconnaissance.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-15680

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allowed attackers to differentiate broken image sizes, indicating the presence of registered external protocol handlers.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: Firefox
Vendor: Mozilla
Versions Affected: < 82

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers could exploit this vulnerability by referencing a valid external protocol handler in an image tag, enabling them to probe the registration status of external protocol handlers.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-15680 requires immediate action and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Firefox to version 82 or higher to mitigate the vulnerability.
Regularly monitor for security advisories and patches from Mozilla.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement robust web security practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities.
Educate users on safe browsing habits to reduce the risk of exploitation.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches promptly to ensure systems are protected against known vulnerabilities.