CVE-2020-6158 in Mini
Summary
by MITRE • 02/21/2025
Opera Mini for Android before version 52.2 is vulnerable to an address bar spoofing attack. The vulnerability allows a malicious page to trick the browser into showing an address of a different page. This may allow the malicious page to impersonate another page and trick a user into providing sensitive data.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/21/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2020-6158 represents a critical address bar spoofing flaw in Opera Mini for Android versions prior to 52.2, which fundamentally undermines user trust and browser security assurances. This vulnerability operates by exploiting the browser's rendering and display mechanisms to manipulate the address bar presentation, creating a deceptive user interface that misleads visitors about the actual website they are visiting. The attack vector specifically targets the mobile browser's user interface components, leveraging the trust users place in visual indicators such as URL displays and address bar content to execute social engineering attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate validation and rendering of URL information within Opera Mini's mobile browser environment. The flaw allows malicious actors to inject content that manipulates how the browser displays the current page address, potentially showing a legitimate domain name while actually loading malicious content from a different source. This type of attack falls under the category of UI redressing or visual spoofing techniques that exploit the human factor in cybersecurity. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it directly targets user perception and trust in the browser's address bar as a security indicator, which is a fundamental expectation in web browsing security practices.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant risks for users who may unknowingly interact with malicious websites while believing they are visiting trusted domains. The attack scenario typically involves a user navigating to a compromised page that employs techniques to display a fake address bar, potentially showing a well-known bank or social media domain while actually delivering malware or phishing content. This deception can lead to credential theft, financial fraud, and data breaches when users enter sensitive information believing they are on a legitimate website. The impact extends beyond individual user compromise to potentially affect broader security ecosystems where users may trust the browser's visual indicators as authentic security signals.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601, which addresses URL redirection and open redirect vulnerabilities, and demonstrates characteristics similar to attacks catalogued under the ATT&CK framework's T1056.001 technique for input injection. Security professionals should recognize this as a prime example of how mobile browser security can be compromised through UI manipulation rather than traditional code execution attacks. Organizations and users must understand that the integrity of browser interface elements like address bars is critical for maintaining user security awareness and preventing social engineering attacks. The remediation strategy requires immediate updates to Opera Mini versions, with security teams implementing browser security monitoring to detect and prevent similar UI manipulation techniques that could be employed in other mobile browsers or web applications.