CVE-2021-29969 (GCVE-0-2021-29969)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2021-08-05 19:46 – Updated: 2024-08-03 22:24
VLAI
Summary
If Thunderbird was configured to use STARTTLS for an IMAP connection, and an attacker injected IMAP server responses prior to the completion of the STARTTLS handshake, then Thunderbird didn't ignore the injected data. This could have resulted in Thunderbird showing incorrect information, for example the attacker could have tricked Thunderbird to show folders that didn't exist on the IMAP server. This vulnerability affects Thunderbird < 78.12.
Severity
5.9 (Medium)
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N
CWE
  • IMAP server responses sent by a MITM prior to STARTTLS could be processed
Assigner
mozilla CNA under the mitre root
CNA scorecard E 38/100 over 546 records in the last 180 days details
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version CPE status
Mozilla Thunderbird Affected: unspecified , < 78.12 (custom)
guessed Create a notification for this product.
Show details on NVD website
To clipboard 

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2024-08-03T22:24:57.484Z",
          "orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
          "shortName": "CVE"
        },
        "references": [
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_refsource_MISC",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-30/"
          },
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_refsource_MISC",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1682370"
          },
          {
            "name": "GLSA-202208-14",
            "tags": [
              "vendor-advisory",
              "x_refsource_GENTOO",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-14"
          }
        ],
        "title": "CVE Program Container"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "Thunderbird",
          "vendor": "Mozilla",
          "versions": [
            {
              "lessThan": "78.12",
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "versionType": "custom"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "If Thunderbird was configured to use STARTTLS for an IMAP connection, and an attacker injected IMAP server responses prior to the completion of the STARTTLS handshake, then Thunderbird didn\u0027t ignore the injected data. This could have resulted in Thunderbird showing incorrect information, for example the attacker could have tricked Thunderbird to show folders that didn\u0027t exist on the IMAP server. This vulnerability affects Thunderbird \u003c 78.12."
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "description": "IMAP server responses sent by a MITM prior to STARTTLS could be processed",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "text"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2022-08-10T05:13:47.000Z",
        "orgId": "f16b083a-5664-49f3-a51e-8d479e5ed7fe",
        "shortName": "mozilla"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-30/"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1682370"
        },
        {
          "name": "GLSA-202208-14",
          "tags": [
            "vendor-advisory",
            "x_refsource_GENTOO"
          ],
          "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-14"
        }
      ],
      "x_legacyV4Record": {
        "CVE_data_meta": {
          "ASSIGNER": "security@mozilla.org",
          "ID": "CVE-2021-29969",
          "STATE": "PUBLIC"
        },
        "affects": {
          "vendor": {
            "vendor_data": [
              {
                "product": {
                  "product_data": [
                    {
                      "product_name": "Thunderbird",
                      "version": {
                        "version_data": [
                          {
                            "version_affected": "\u003c",
                            "version_value": "78.12"
                          }
                        ]
                      }
                    }
                  ]
                },
                "vendor_name": "Mozilla"
              }
            ]
          }
        },
        "data_format": "MITRE",
        "data_type": "CVE",
        "data_version": "4.0",
        "description": {
          "description_data": [
            {
              "lang": "eng",
              "value": "If Thunderbird was configured to use STARTTLS for an IMAP connection, and an attacker injected IMAP server responses prior to the completion of the STARTTLS handshake, then Thunderbird didn\u0027t ignore the injected data. This could have resulted in Thunderbird showing incorrect information, for example the attacker could have tricked Thunderbird to show folders that didn\u0027t exist on the IMAP server. This vulnerability affects Thunderbird \u003c 78.12."
            }
          ]
        },
        "problemtype": {
          "problemtype_data": [
            {
              "description": [
                {
                  "lang": "eng",
                  "value": "IMAP server responses sent by a MITM prior to STARTTLS could be processed"
                }
              ]
            }
          ]
        },
        "references": {
          "reference_data": [
            {
              "name": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-30/",
              "refsource": "MISC",
              "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-30/"
            },
            {
              "name": "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1682370",
              "refsource": "MISC",
              "url": "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1682370"
            },
            {
              "name": "GLSA-202208-14",
              "refsource": "GENTOO",
              "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-14"
            }
          ]
        }
      }
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "f16b083a-5664-49f3-a51e-8d479e5ed7fe",
    "assignerShortName": "mozilla",
    "cveId": "CVE-2021-29969",
    "datePublished": "2021-08-05T19:46:42.000Z",
    "dateReserved": "2021-04-01T00:00:00.000Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2024-08-03T22:24:57.484Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.1",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2021-29969",
      "date": "2026-10-14",
      "epss": "0.012",
      "percentile": "0.67565"
    },
    "fkie_nvd": {
      "configurations": [
        {
          "nodes": [
            {
              "cpeMatch": [
                {
                  "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                  "matchCriteriaId": "B96D1A35-81C7-4D05-ADBA-210CA094D117",
                  "versionEndExcluding": "78.12",
                  "vulnerable": true
                }
              ],
              "negate": false,
              "operator": "OR"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "If Thunderbird was configured to use STARTTLS for an IMAP connection, and an attacker injected IMAP server responses prior to the completion of the STARTTLS handshake, then Thunderbird didn\u0027t ignore the injected data. This could have resulted in Thunderbird showing incorrect information, for example the attacker could have tricked Thunderbird to show folders that didn\u0027t exist on the IMAP server. This vulnerability affects Thunderbird \u003c 78.12."
        },
        {
          "lang": "es",
          "value": "Si Thunderbird estaba configurado para usar STARTTLS para una conexi\u00f3n IMAP, y un atacante inyectaba las respuestas del servidor IMAP antes de la finalizaci\u00f3n del handshake STARTTLS, entonces Thunderbird no ignoraba los datos inyectados. Esto podr\u00eda haber resultado en que Thunderbird mostrara informaci\u00f3n incorrecta, por ejemplo, el atacante podr\u00eda haber enga\u00f1ado a Thunderbird para que mostrara carpetas que no exist\u00edan en el servidor IMAP. Esta vulnerabilidad afecta a Thunderbird versiones anteriores a 78.12"
        }
      ],
      "id": "CVE-2021-29969",
      "lastModified": "2024-11-21T06:02:05.040",
      "metrics": {
        "cvssMetricV2": [
          {
            "acInsufInfo": false,
            "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
            "cvssData": {
              "accessComplexity": "MEDIUM",
              "accessVector": "NETWORK",
              "authentication": "NONE",
              "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
              "baseScore": 4.3,
              "confidentialityImpact": "PARTIAL",
              "integrityImpact": "NONE",
              "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N",
              "version": "2.0"
            },
            "exploitabilityScore": 8.6,
            "impactScore": 2.9,
            "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
            "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
            "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
            "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
            "type": "Primary",
            "userInteractionRequired": false
          }
        ],
        "cvssMetricV31": [
          {
            "cvssData": {
              "attackComplexity": "HIGH",
              "attackVector": "NETWORK",
              "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
              "baseScore": 5.9,
              "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
              "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
              "integrityImpact": "NONE",
              "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
              "scope": "UNCHANGED",
              "userInteraction": "NONE",
              "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
              "version": "3.1"
            },
            "exploitabilityScore": 2.2,
            "impactScore": 3.6,
            "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
            "type": "Primary"
          }
        ]
      },
      "published": "2021-08-05T20:15:08.500",
      "references": [
        {
          "source": "security@mozilla.org",
          "tags": [
            "Issue Tracking",
            "Permissions Required",
            "Vendor Advisory"
          ],
          "url": "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1682370"
        },
        {
          "source": "security@mozilla.org",
          "tags": [
            "Third Party Advisory"
          ],
          "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-14"
        },
        {
          "source": "security@mozilla.org",
          "tags": [
            "Vendor Advisory"
          ],
          "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-30/"
        },
        {
          "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
          "tags": [
            "Issue Tracking",
            "Permissions Required",
            "Vendor Advisory"
          ],
          "url": "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1682370"
        },
        {
          "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
          "tags": [
            "Third Party Advisory"
          ],
          "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-14"
        },
        {
          "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
          "tags": [
            "Vendor Advisory"
          ],
          "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-30/"
        }
      ],
      "sourceIdentifier": "security@mozilla.org",
      "vulnStatus": "Modified",
      "weaknesses": [
        {
          "description": [
            {
              "lang": "en",
              "value": "CWE-552"
            }
          ],
          "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
          "type": "Primary"
        }
      ]
    },
    "nvd": {
      "cve": {
        "configurations": [
          {
            "nodes": [
              {
                "cpeMatch": [
                  {
                    "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:mozilla:thunderbird:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                    "matchCriteriaId": "B96D1A35-81C7-4D05-ADBA-210CA094D117",
                    "versionEndExcluding": "78.12",
                    "vulnerable": true
                  }
                ],
                "negate": false,
                "operator": "OR"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "cveTags": [],
        "descriptions": [
          {
            "lang": "en",
            "value": "If Thunderbird was configured to use STARTTLS for an IMAP connection, and an attacker injected IMAP server responses prior to the completion of the STARTTLS handshake, then Thunderbird didn\u0027t ignore the injected data. This could have resulted in Thunderbird showing incorrect information, for example the attacker could have tricked Thunderbird to show folders that didn\u0027t exist on the IMAP server. This vulnerability affects Thunderbird \u003c 78.12."
          },
          {
            "lang": "es",
            "value": "Si Thunderbird estaba configurado para usar STARTTLS para una conexi\u00f3n IMAP, y un atacante inyectaba las respuestas del servidor IMAP antes de la finalizaci\u00f3n del handshake STARTTLS, entonces Thunderbird no ignoraba los datos inyectados. Esto podr\u00eda haber resultado en que Thunderbird mostrara informaci\u00f3n incorrecta, por ejemplo, el atacante podr\u00eda haber enga\u00f1ado a Thunderbird para que mostrara carpetas que no exist\u00edan en el servidor IMAP. Esta vulnerabilidad afecta a Thunderbird versiones anteriores a 78.12"
          }
        ],
        "id": "CVE-2021-29969",
        "lastModified": "2024-11-21T06:02:05.040",
        "metrics": {
          "cvssMetricV2": [
            {
              "acInsufInfo": false,
              "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
              "cvssData": {
                "accessComplexity": "MEDIUM",
                "accessVector": "NETWORK",
                "authentication": "NONE",
                "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
                "baseScore": 4.3,
                "confidentialityImpact": "PARTIAL",
                "integrityImpact": "NONE",
                "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N",
                "version": "2.0"
              },
              "exploitabilityScore": 8.6,
              "impactScore": 2.9,
              "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
              "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
              "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
              "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
              "type": "Primary",
              "userInteractionRequired": false
            }
          ],
          "cvssMetricV31": [
            {
              "cvssData": {
                "attackComplexity": "HIGH",
                "attackVector": "NETWORK",
                "availabilityImpact": "NONE",
                "baseScore": 5.9,
                "baseSeverity": "MEDIUM",
                "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
                "integrityImpact": "NONE",
                "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
                "scope": "UNCHANGED",
                "userInteraction": "NONE",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N",
                "version": "3.1"
              },
              "exploitabilityScore": 2.2,
              "impactScore": 3.6,
              "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
              "type": "Primary"
            }
          ]
        },
        "published": "2021-08-05T20:15:08.500",
        "references": [
          {
            "source": "security@mozilla.org",
            "tags": [
              "Issue Tracking",
              "Permissions Required",
              "Vendor Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1682370"
          },
          {
            "source": "security@mozilla.org",
            "tags": [
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-14"
          },
          {
            "source": "security@mozilla.org",
            "tags": [
              "Vendor Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-30/"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Issue Tracking",
              "Permissions Required",
              "Vendor Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1682370"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202208-14"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Vendor Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2021-30/"
          }
        ],
        "sourceIdentifier": "security@mozilla.org",
        "vulnStatus": "Modified",
        "weaknesses": [
          {
            "description": [
              {
                "lang": "en",
                "value": "CWE-552"
              }
            ],
            "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
            "type": "Primary"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Important",
      "current_release_date": "2025-11-21T16:13:16+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2021-29969",
      "id": "CVE-2021-29969",
      "initial_release_date": "2021-07-13T00:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:fixed": "45",
      "product_status:known_affected": "2",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "Mozilla: IMAP server responses sent by a MITM prior to STARTTLS could be processed",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2021/cve-2021-29969.json",
      "version": "3"
    },
    "suse_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "important",
      "current_release_date": "2026-09-01T01:39:17Z",
      "cve": "CVE-2021-29969",
      "id": "CVE-2021-29969",
      "initial_release_date": "2023-02-15T03:42:36Z",
      "product_status:known_affected": "44",
      "product_status:recommended": "106",
      "source": "SUSE CSAF VEX",
      "status": "interim",
      "title": "SUSE CVE CVE-2021-29969",
      "url": "https://ftp.suse.com/pub/projects/security/csaf-vex/cve-2021-29969.json",
      "version": "22"
    }
  }
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.




Drag nodes to arrange them. Double-click a related vulnerability to open it, or a source to visit its link. The Physics button on the left tunes the layout and the simulation; the legend at the bottom left hides or shows nodes by kind and by sighting type.

Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
Vulnerability timeline

Sightings and recorded dates, grouped by day · UTC

JSON

Loading timeline…




    Related by attack behaviour

    Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.