CVE-2026-92033 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE • 09/15/2026
Privilege escalation in Firefox for Android. This vulnerability was fixed in Firefox 156.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/15/2026
The identified security issue represents a critical privilege escalation flaw within the Mozilla Firefox browser engine as deployed on the Android operating system platform. Such vulnerabilities typically arise from improper handling of permissions or state transitions between different execution contexts, specifically when interacting with native code components via Java Native Interface bridges or similar inter-process communication mechanisms. In this specific instance, an attacker who has successfully exploited a lower-level vulnerability to execute arbitrary JavaScript within a web page context could leverage the flaw in Firefox for Android to escalate privileges beyond those intended by the browser's security model. This effectively allows malicious scripts to perform actions that should be restricted to higher-privilege processes or system components, bypassing standard sandbox boundaries designed to isolate untrusted content from sensitive user data and device functions.
From a technical perspective, privilege escalation vulnerabilities in mobile browsers often stem from insufficient validation of inputs passed between the JavaScript engine and native Android services. The flaw likely involves a logic error where specific API calls are executed without adequate checks on the origin or intent of the request, allowing an attacker to manipulate internal state variables or invoke restricted methods that grant access to private application data, device identifiers, or system-level permissions. This type of defect is commonly categorized under CWE-269 Improper Privilege Management or CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write if memory corruption was involved in the exploitation chain. The existence of such a flaw undermines the fundamental principle of least privilege that governs modern web browser architectures, where each tab and script should operate within isolated sandboxes with minimal access to the host environment.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe for end-users who rely on Firefox for Android as their primary browsing tool. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive information stored locally by the browser, such as saved passwords, cookies containing session tokens, and browsing history. Furthermore, depending on the specific implementation details not fully disclosed in the brief summary, it may allow attackers to intercept network traffic, inject malicious content into trusted pages, or potentially gain control over device features like the camera or microphone if those permissions were previously granted but are now bypassed through elevated privileges. This compromises user privacy and integrity of data, posing significant risks for individuals handling confidential information on mobile devices.
Mozilla addressed this issue in Firefox version 156 by implementing stricter validation checks within the native code components responsible for bridging JavaScript execution with Android system calls. The fix likely involved hardening the permission model to ensure that only trusted contexts can invoke specific high-privilege functions, thereby closing the attack vector used for escalation. Users are strongly advised to update their Firefox application immediately to version 156 or later to mitigate this risk. Additionally, maintaining up-to-date operating system patches and employing mobile device management solutions can provide additional layers of defense against exploitation attempts that might target unpatched browser versions. Security researchers should monitor future releases for any related advisories concerning privilege boundaries in the Gecko engine on Android platforms.