CVE-2020-6794: Medium severity Mozilla Thunderbird vulnerability
If a user saved passwords before Thunderbird 60 and then later set a master password, an unencrypted copy of these passwords is still accessible. This is because the older stored password file was not deleted when the data was copied to a new format starting in Thunderbird 60. The new master password is added only on the new file. This could allow the exposure of stored password data outside of user expectations.
Affected Software
Remediation
Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.
- Upgrade
Upgrade
Thunderbirdto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 68.5 - Upgrade
Upgrade
debian/thunderbirdto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 1:115.12.0-1~deb11u1Fixed in 1:128.10.0esr-1~deb11u1Fixed in 1:128.8.0esr-1~deb12u1Fixed in 1:128.10.0esr-1~deb12u1Fixed in 1:128.9.0esr-1Fixed in 1:128.10.0esr-1 - Upgrade
Upgrade
Mozilla Thunderbirdto a version that resolves this vulnerability.Fixed in 68.5 - Operational
If upgrading, remove the legacy/unencrypted stored-password file that persisted after migrating to the new password format in Thunderbird 60 (older file was not deleted when copied).
Event History
Peer vulnerabilities
Found alongside the following vulnerabilities.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is CVE-2020-6794?
CVE-2020-6794 is a vulnerability in Thunderbird that allows access to unencrypted passwords if a user saved passwords before Thunderbird 60 and later set a master password.
Which software versions are affected by CVE-2020-6794?
The vulnerability affects Thunderbird versions up to and including 68.5.0.
How severe is CVE-2020-6794?
CVE-2020-6794 has a severity rating of 6.5 (Medium).
How can I fix CVE-2020-6794?
To fix CVE-2020-6794, update Thunderbird to version 68.7.0 or later.
Where can I find more information about CVE-2020-6794?
You can find more information about CVE-2020-6794 in the following references: [Bugzilla](https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1606619), [Mozilla Security Advisory](https://www.mozilla.org/en-US/security/advisories/mfsa2020-07/), [Gentoo Security Advisory](https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202003-10).