CVE-2016-1978

CVE-2016-1978 is a high-severity vulnerability in Mozilla Firefox with a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.3. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low.

Key facts

Description

Use-after-free vulnerability in the ssl3_HandleECDHServerKeyExchange function in Mozilla Network Security Services (NSS) before 3.21, as used in Mozilla Firefox before 44.0, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact by making an SSL (1) DHE or (2) ECDHE handshake at a time of high memory consumption.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2016-1978?
Use-after-free vulnerability in the ssl3_HandleECDHServerKeyExchange function in Mozilla Network Security Services (NSS) before 3.21, as used in Mozilla Firefox before 44.0, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly have unspecified other impact by making an SSL (1) DHE or (2) ECDHE handshake at a time of high memory consumption.
How severe is CVE-2016-1978?
CVE-2016-1978 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 7.3, rated high severity. It is exploitable over network with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is low, integrity low, and availability low.
Is CVE-2016-1978 being actively exploited?
It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 2% (82nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2016-1978?
CVE-2016-1978 primarily affects Mozilla Firefox. In total, 2 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
How do I fix CVE-2016-1978?
Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2016-1978 published?
CVE-2016-1978 was published on 2016-03-13 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (2)

More vulnerabilities in Mozilla Firefox

All CVEs affecting Mozilla Firefox →