Mozilla Firefox HTTPS HEIST information disclosure

CVSS Meta Temp Score
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CTI Interest Score
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4.4$0-$5k0.00

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Mozilla Firefox. The impacted element is an unknown function of the component HTTPS Handler. The manipulation results in information disclosure (HEIST). This vulnerability is identified as CVE-2016-7152. There is not any exploit available. This vulnerability has a historic impact due to its background and reception. Applying the suggested workaround is recommended.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Mozilla Firefox (Web Browser) (affected version not known). Affected is some unknown functionality of the component HTTPS Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a information disclosure vulnerability (HEIST). CWE is classifying the issue as CWE-200. The product exposes sensitive information to an actor that is not explicitly authorized to have access to that information. This is going to have an impact on confidentiality. CVE summarizes:

The HTTPS protocol does not consider the role of the TCP congestion window in providing information about content length, which makes it easier for remote attackers to obtain cleartext data by leveraging a web-browser configuration in which third-party cookies are sent, aka a "HEIST" attack.

The weakness was released 08/03/2016 by Mathy Vanhoef and Tom Van Goethem with iMinds-DistriNet as HEIST: HTTP Encrypted Information can be Stolen through TCP-windows as confirmed paper (Blackhat). The advisory is shared for download at blackhat.com. The public release happened without coordination with the vendor. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2016-7152 since 09/06/2016. The exploitability is told to be difficult. It is possible to launch the attack remotely. The exploitation doesn't require any form of authentication. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The current price for an exploit might be approx. USD $0-$5k (estimation calculated on 09/08/2025). The MITRE ATT&CK project declares the attack technique as T1592. This vulnerability has a historic impact due to its background and reception.

The vulnerability scanner Nessus provides a plugin with the ID 261330 (Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2016-7152), which helps to determine the existence of the flaw in a target environment.

The best possible mitigation is suggested to be Workaround.

The vulnerability is also documented in the databases at Tenable (261330) and SecurityFocus (BID 92769†). Further details are available at arstechnica.com. Entries connected to this vulnerability are available at VDB-91292, VDB-91293, VDB-91294 and VDB-91295. VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

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CPE 2.3info

CPE 2.2info

CVSSv4info

VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

CVSSv3info

VulDB Meta Base Score: 4.5
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 4.4

VulDB Base Score: 3.7
VulDB Temp Score: 3.6
VulDB Vector: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 5.3
NVD Vector: 🔍

CVSSv2info

AVACAuCIA
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VectorComplexityAuthenticationConfidentialityIntegrityAvailability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔍
VulDB Temp Score: 🔍
VulDB Reliability: 🔍

NVD Base Score: 🔍

Exploitinginfo

Name: HEIST
Class: Information disclosure / HEIST
CWE: CWE-200 / CWE-284 / CWE-266
CAPEC: 🔍
ATT&CK: 🔍

Physical: No
Local: No
Remote: Yes

Availability: 🔍
Status: Not defined

EPSS Score: 🔍
EPSS Percentile: 🔍

Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔍

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Nessus ID: 261330
Nessus Name: Linux Distros Unpatched Vulnerability : CVE-2016-7152

Threat Intelligenceinfo

Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍

Countermeasuresinfo

Recommended: Workaround
Status: 🔍

0-Day Time: 🔍

Timelineinfo

08/03/2016 🔍
09/06/2016 +34 days 🔍
09/06/2016 +0 days 🔍
09/06/2016 +0 days 🔍
09/07/2016 +1 days 🔍
09/08/2025 +3288 days 🔍

Sourcesinfo

Vendor: mozilla.org
Product: mozilla.org

Advisory: HEIST: HTTP Encrypted Information can be Stolen through TCP-windows
Researcher: Mathy Vanhoef, Tom Van Goethem
Organization: iMinds-DistriNet
Status: Confirmed

CVE: CVE-2016-7152 (🔍)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2016-7152
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-91296
SecurityFocus: 92769 - HTTPS CVE-2016-7152 Information Disclosure Vulnerability
SecurityTracker: 1036741

Misc.: 🔍
See also: 🔍

Entryinfo

Created: 09/07/2016 11:07
Updated: 09/08/2025 19:08
Changes: 09/07/2016 11:07 (50), 04/10/2019 22:26 (12), 09/15/2022 07:19 (3), 09/15/2022 07:24 (11), 09/08/2025 19:08 (16)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 216::103

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