CVE-2023-4047 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE • 08/01/2023
A bug in popup notifications delay calculation could have made it possible for an attacker to trick a user into granting permissions. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 116, Firefox ESR < 102.14, and Firefox ESR < 115.1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-4047 represents a critical flaw in Firefox's popup notification delay calculation mechanism that could potentially enable social engineering attacks against users. This issue specifically impacts Firefox versions prior to 116, Firefox ESR versions prior to 102.14, and Firefox ESR versions prior to 115.1, creating a window of exposure for users who have not yet updated their browsers. The flaw resides in how Firefox calculates and displays notification delays, which could be manipulated by attackers to create misleading timing sequences that appear legitimate to end users. This vulnerability falls under the broader category of user interface deception attacks where the timing and presentation of security warnings are manipulated to influence user behavior. The issue is particularly concerning because it leverages the trust users place in browser security notifications, potentially allowing attackers to bypass normal security protocols through carefully crafted deceptive interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves Firefox's notification system where the delay calculation algorithm fails to properly account for certain timing parameters that could be influenced by malicious actors. When a website attempts to display a popup notification, Firefox calculates the appropriate delay before presenting the notification to the user, but this calculation contains a flaw that allows for manipulation of the perceived timing. Attackers could exploit this by crafting web pages that manipulate the delay calculation in such a way that notifications appear to occur at different intervals than they actually do, potentially causing users to make incorrect security decisions. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-691, which addresses insufficient control flow management, and specifically relates to inadequate protection against user interface manipulation attacks. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor calculation errors in security-critical components can create significant attack vectors that bypass normal user awareness mechanisms.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple notification manipulation to potentially enable more sophisticated phishing and social engineering campaigns. Users who encounter manipulated notification delays may be tricked into granting permissions that they would normally reject, particularly when the timing of notifications appears to align with expected security behavior. This could lead to unauthorized access to microphone, camera, location services, or other sensitive device capabilities. The attack surface is particularly wide since popup notifications are commonly used for permission requests, and the timing manipulation could make malicious requests appear more legitimate than they actually are. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving social engineering and user manipulation, specifically targeting the T1566.002 sub-technique related to phishing with social engineering. The vulnerability could be exploited in conjunction with other attack vectors to create more convincing deceptive scenarios, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attacks against security-conscious users.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2023-4047 require immediate browser updates to patched versions that correct the delay calculation algorithm. Organizations should ensure all Firefox installations are updated to versions 116, 102.14, or 115.1 respectively, depending on their specific Firefox variant. System administrators should implement automated update policies to prevent users from operating vulnerable browser versions. Security awareness training should emphasize the importance of carefully reviewing permission requests regardless of notification timing, as this vulnerability demonstrates how timing can be manipulated to influence user decisions. Network monitoring should be enhanced to detect potentially malicious websites that attempt to exploit this vulnerability through crafted popup sequences. Additionally, browser security policies should be reviewed to ensure that notification permissions are properly restricted and that users are educated about the risks of granting permissions to untrusted websites. The vulnerability highlights the need for continuous security testing of user interface components, as seemingly benign presentation elements can become attack vectors when their underlying calculations contain flaws.