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CVE Record

CVE-2017-5462: A flaw in DRBG number generation within the Network Security Services (NSS) library where the internal stat...

A flaw in DRBG number generation within the Network Security Services (NSS) library where the internal state V does not correctly carry bits over. The NSS library has been updated to fix this issue to address this issue and Firefox ESR 52.1 has been updated with NSS version 3.28.4. This vulnerability affects Thunderbird < 52.1, Firefox ESR < 45.9, Firefox ESR < 52.1, and Firefox < 53.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2017-5462 is a weakness in NSS, the cryptographic library used by affected Mozilla products. Its random number generator did not correctly carry bits in internal state, which could reduce cryptographic reliability. The sources identify fixed Mozilla releases, but provide no CVSS score or confirmed exploitation evidence.

Executive priority

Treat this as a legacy cryptography hygiene issue. It warrants timely remediation where old Mozilla or NSS packages remain, but the provided evidence does not justify emergency response claims or active-compromise assumptions.

Technical view

The flaw is in NSS DRBG generation: internal state value V did not correctly carry bits over. The affected products listed are Thunderbird before 52.1, Firefox before 53, Firefox ESR before 45.9, and Firefox ESR before 52.1. Mozilla updated NSS, including NSS 3.28.4 in Firefox ESR 52.1.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely on legacy desktops, servers, or packaged applications still running old Firefox, Firefox ESR, Thunderbird, or NSS builds from the 2017 era. Modern supported systems are less likely exposed if vendor security updates have been applied.

Exploitation context

The supplied sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation. Because this is a cryptographic random number generation flaw, impact depends on how affected NSS versions were used, but the bundle does not provide practical exploit details or observed abuse.

Researcher notes

The public description is specific about the DRBG carry-state defect but sparse on exploitability, CVSS, and operational impact. Focus analysis on NSS version lineage, downstream distro backports, and whether applications dynamically link to vulnerable NSS packages.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Firefox to 53 or later, or a vendor-supported fixed build.
  • Upgrade Firefox ESR to 45.9, 52.1, or later supported ESR releases.
  • Upgrade Thunderbird to 52.1 or later supported releases.
  • Apply operating system NSS package updates from Debian, Gentoo, or your platform vendor.
  • Retire unsupported Mozilla and NSS builds that cannot receive security updates.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory endpoints and servers for Firefox, Firefox ESR, Thunderbird, and NSS versions.
  • Confirm Firefox is 53 or later, or a vendor-fixed equivalent.
  • Confirm Firefox ESR is 45.9, 52.1, or a vendor-fixed equivalent.
  • Confirm Thunderbird is 52.1 or later, or a vendor-fixed equivalent.
  • Check Linux package changelogs against Debian or Gentoo advisory fixes.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
10

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

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CVE-2017-5462 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Unknown
CVSS
Not scored
Known Exploited
No
Published
Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
9Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
MozillaThunderbirdunspecifiedListed
MozillaFirefox ESRunspecified, unspecifiedListed
MozillaFirefoxunspecifiedListed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.