Lorraine Williamson
The Oficina de Seguridad del Internauta (OSI) has issued a high-priority alert urging all Mozilla Firefox users to update their browsers to the latest version following the discovery of a critical vulnerability.
The issue affects Firefox on all operating systems, including versions prior to:
- Firefox 131.0.2
- Firefox ESR 115.16.1
- Firefox ESR 128.3.1
Why the update is crucial
Mozilla has confirmed the existence of a security flaw that is already being exploited. This vulnerability, found in the browser’s animation handling on websites, allows attackers to execute malicious commands on an affected system simply by visiting a compromised webpage. Once exploited, the attacker could potentially control the browser and compromise user data and privacy.
Given the severity of this vulnerability, OSI strongly recommends updating Firefox immediately on all devices to safeguard against potential attacks.
How to update Firefox
If you use Mozilla Firefox on any device, here’s how you can ensure your browser is up-to-date:
On computers:
- Open Firefox and click on the menu icon (three horizontal lines) in the top-right corner.
- Select Help > About Firefox.
- If the message “Firefox is up to date” appears, your browser is already secure. If not, Firefox will automatically begin checking for updates.
- Once the update is downloaded, click Restart to Update Firefox.
Alternatively:
- Click the menu icon (three lines).
- Go to Settings > General > Firefox Updates > Check for Updates.
On Mobile Devices:
- For Android users, update through Google Play.
- For iPhone users, update via the App Store.
Understanding the threat
The vulnerability is tied to a flaw in the way Firefox manages animations on websites, thus allowing attackers to exploit this weakness by luring users to malicious websites. Once the webpage is opened, the attacker can gain control over the browser and execute harmful actions.
Mozilla has already received reports that this vulnerability is being actively exploited, making the update crucial to preventing further risks.
Act now to stay protected
Ensuring that your browser is fully updated is the best defense against this critical vulnerability. Follow the steps outlined above to verify that your version of Firefox is current and secure.
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