CVE-2018-16135 in Mini
Summary
by MITRE • 12/27/2022
The Opera Mini application 47.1.2249.129326 for Android allows remote attackers to spoof the Location Permission dialog via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 01/24/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-16135 represents a significant security flaw in the Opera Mini mobile browser application version 47.1.2249.129326 for Android devices. This issue falls under the category of user interface deception and permission manipulation, where malicious actors can exploit the browser's handling of location permission requests to create convincing fake dialogs that mislead users into granting unauthorized location access. The vulnerability specifically targets the user interface elements responsible for displaying location permission prompts, allowing attackers to craft web pages that appear to be legitimate system dialogs while actually being maliciously constructed interfaces.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the way Opera Mini renders and validates location permission requests within its web view component. When users encounter a website requesting location services, the browser displays a permission dialog that should originate from the operating system or be clearly distinguishable from web content. However, the flaw allows attackers to create web pages that can mimic these system dialogs with sufficient fidelity to deceive users into believing they are interacting with legitimate system prompts rather than malicious web content. This bypasses the normal security mechanisms that should prevent such spoofing attacks.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates a serious risk for users who may unknowingly grant location permissions to malicious websites. The attack vector requires users to navigate to a specially crafted website, but once triggered, it can lead to persistent location tracking, data collection for targeted advertising, or even more sophisticated attacks that leverage location information for additional exploits. The vulnerability affects all Android users running the specific vulnerable version of Opera Mini, creating a widespread risk profile that could be exploited at scale through various phishing campaigns or compromised websites.
The security implications extend beyond simple location tracking, as this vulnerability can be leveraged as a stepping stone for more advanced attacks. According to the ATT&CK framework, this represents a technique for privilege escalation and data collection through social engineering, potentially enabling adversaries to gather location-based intelligence for further targeting. The CWE classification for this vulnerability would align with CWE-611, which deals with improper access control in web applications, or CWE-200, which covers information exposure. Organizations and users should be particularly concerned about the potential for this vulnerability to be combined with other techniques to create more comprehensive attack chains that could compromise user privacy and security.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate software updates and user education. Users should upgrade to the latest version of Opera Mini where this vulnerability has been patched, typically through the standard application update mechanisms available through the Google Play Store. Security professionals should implement monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while also educating users about the importance of verifying the authenticity of permission requests and being cautious when granting location access to unfamiliar websites. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of proper input validation and user interface security in mobile browser applications, as the flaw demonstrates how seemingly minor UI rendering issues can create significant security risks for end users.