IRONSMITHINTEL
CRITICALCVSS9.6
|
Actively Exploited
|CISA KEV|CVE-2022-26486|Auth: none — unauthenticated|Reboot: required|Manual only

Mozilla Firefox Use-After-Free Vulnerability

Mozilla Firefox contains a use-after-free vulnerability in WebGPU IPC Framework which can be exploited to perform arbitrary code execution.

Published Dec 22, 2022 · Updated May 16, 2026
Why patchRisk explained in plain English
Worst-case scenarioIf unpatched

A remote attacker, without authentication, can achieve full data confidentiality loss, arbitrary modification of data, complete denial of service or system unavailability. Federal agencies are required to remediate by 2022-03-21 under CISA BOD 22-01.

How the attack worksNo clicks needed

This is a Use After Free (CWE-416) vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox. An unexpected message in the WebGPU IPC framework could lead to a use-after-free and exploitable sandbox escape. We have had reports of attacks in the wild abusing this flaw. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 97.0.2, Firefox ESR < 91.6.1, Firefox for Android < 97.3.0, Thunderbird < 91.6.2, and Focus < 97.3.0. Exploitation requires remote network access, low attack complexity, no authentication required, and user interaction required.

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Phishing link

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Malicious file

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Server compromised

Am I affected?Quick check

Probably yes if any of these apply:

IT Security
Running firefox: v < 91.6.1, v < 97.0.2, v < 97.3.0; firefox focus: v < 97.3.0; thunderbird: v < 91.6.2
Real-world incidentsWhat we've seen

Active exploitation documented in the wild. Threat-research write-up: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1758070

How to patch

Manual remediation steps

Apply the Vendor Patch

This vulnerability is in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog — apply the vendor's security update as soon as possible.

CISA required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

References

    1
    Vendor advisory: https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1758070
    1
    NVD entry: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26486
    1
    CISA KEV: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2022-26486
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