CVE-2021-29971 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2021-29971 article provides a detailed insight into a security vulnerability affecting Firefox for Android.

Understanding CVE-2021-29971

This section will discuss the nature of the vulnerability and its impact on affected systems.

What is CVE-2021-29971?

The vulnerability in Firefox for Android allows any webpage on the same host, regardless of scheme or port, to inherit permissions granted to another webpage by the user.

The Impact of CVE-2021-29971

This issue significantly impacts the security of Firefox < 90 for Android users, potentially leading to unauthorized permissions.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-29971

This section will delve into the specifics of the vulnerability, affected systems, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The bug allows cross-domain permission escalation within Firefox for Android, affecting versions prior to 90.

Affected Systems and Versions

Firefox for Android versions below 90 are vulnerable to this security flaw, while other operating systems are not affected.

Exploitation Mechanism

By leveraging this vulnerability, attackers can manipulate permissions granted to webpages on the same host in Firefox for Android.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section outlines the necessary steps to mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2021-29971 and prevent potential exploits.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update Firefox for Android to version 90 or above to mitigate the risk of unauthorized permissions inheritance.

Long-Term Security Practices

Enforcing best security practices such as regular software updates and user awareness regarding permissions can prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Mozilla has addressed this vulnerability in Firefox version 90, containing the necessary patches to mitigate the security risk.