CVE-2021-38502

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Last Modified: UTC

ImportantImportant ImpactWhat does this mean?

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Description

The CVE Program describes this issue as:

Thunderbird ignored the configuration to require STARTTLS security for an SMTP connection. A MITM could perform a downgrade attack to intercept transmitted messages, or could take control of the authenticated session to execute SMTP commands chosen by the MITM. If an unprotected authentication method was configured, the MITM could obtain the authentication credentials, too. This vulnerability affects Thunderbird < 91.2.

Additional information

  • Bugzilla 2013469: Mozilla: Downgrade attack on SMTP STARTTLS connections
  • CWE-319: Cleartext Transmission of Sensitive Information
  • FAQ: Frequently asked questions about CVE-2021-38502

Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details

Important note

CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).

CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
Red HatNVD

CVSS v3 Base Score

7.5

5.9

Attack Vector

Network

Network

Attack Complexity

High

High

Privileges Required

None

None

User Interaction

Required

None

Scope

Unchanged

Unchanged

Confidentiality Impact

High

High

Integrity Impact

High

None

Availability Impact

High

None

CVSS v3 Vector

Red Hat: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:N/A:N

Understanding the Weakness (CWE)

CWE-319

Integrity,Confidentiality

Technical Impact: Read Application Data; Modify Files or Directories

Anyone can read the information by gaining access to the channel being used for communication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Red Hat's CVSS v3 score or Impact different from other vendors?

My product is listed as "Under investigation" or "Affected", when will Red Hat release a fix for this vulnerability?

What can I do if my product is listed as "Will not fix"?

What can I do if my product is listed as "Fix deferred"?

What is a mitigation?

I have a Red Hat product but it is not in the above list, is it affected?

Why is my security scanner reporting my product as vulnerable to this vulnerability even though my product version is fixed or not affected?

My product is listed as "Out of Support Scope". What does this mean?

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