CVE-2019-9801 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

A vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox, Thunderbird, and Firefox ESR versions allows the execution of local applications on Windows systems.

Understanding CVE-2019-9801

This CVE affects Thunderbird, Firefox ESR, and Firefox versions on Windows systems.

What is CVE-2019-9801?

Firefox on Windows can launch local applications associated with specific URLs, posing a security risk.

The Impact of CVE-2019-9801

This vulnerability allows malicious actors to potentially execute unauthorized applications on affected Windows systems.

Technical Details of CVE-2019-9801

Mozilla products are affected by a flaw that enables the execution of local applications through Firefox on Windows systems.

Vulnerability Description

Firefox can launch local applications linked to URLs, exploiting the Windows registry's external protocol handler feature.

Affected Systems and Versions

Thunderbird < 60.6
Firefox ESR < 60.6
Firefox < 66

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability allows attackers to prompt users to launch unauthorized local applications through Firefox on Windows systems.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent exploitation of CVE-2019-9801.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update affected Mozilla products to versions above the specified vulnerable versions.
Exercise caution when prompted to launch applications from within the browser.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Mozilla products to the latest versions to patch security vulnerabilities.
Avoid clicking on suspicious or unknown URLs to prevent potential exploitation.

Patching and Updates

Apply security patches and updates provided by Mozilla to address CVE-2019-9801.