2008173 - Dialog fails to contain keyboard focus (Settings dialog > Topics dialog)

Status: RESOLVED DUPLICATE of bug 2008172

(Firefox :: New Tab Page, defect)

Description

[John Northup]

Steps to Reproduce

Activate the Customize button. Within the Settings dialog, activate the Manage topics button. The Topics dialog opens. Navigate this dialog using the keyboard.

Expected Behavior

Focus is contained within the dialog until it is dismissed.

Actual Behavior

User can interact with background content (including the Settings dialog) that is meant to be inaccessible.

User Impact

Keyboard users cannot reliably operate the modal dialog using the keyboard alone. Focused elements in the background may be partially or entirely obscured behind the dialog. Users relying on screen reader output may be unaware that the dialog is present.

WCAG 2.2 References

• WCAG 2.1.1 - Keyboard
• WCAG 2.4.3 - Focus Order
• [WCAG 2.4.11 - Focus Not Obscured (Minimum)](https://www.w3.org/WAI/WCAG22/Un

Recommendations

Keep keyboard focus contained within the dialog until it is dismissed.

Testing Environment

Any

Assistive Technology Used

Any or None

Code Pointers

Further Reference

• W3C WAI APG: Modal Dialog Example

Comment 1

[John Northup]

Attachment: Topics dialog open and partially obscuring focused element

Comment 2

[Giorgia Nichita, Release Desktop QA]

Reproduced with Firefox 149.0a1 (2026-01-27) on Windows 10 and mac 11, following the STR from Comment 0.
Marking this issue as new for engineering input.

Comment 4

[❌ Anna Yeddi [:ayeddi] ❌ On leave until 2027-01-04]

Assigning the Severity value to align with the Accessibility severity, per discussions with :thecount and :marco