CVE-2025-0244 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE • 01/07/2025
When redirecting to an invalid protocol scheme, an attacker could spoof the address bar. *Note: This issue only affected Android operating systems. Other operating systems are unaffected.*. This vulnerability was fixed in Firefox 134.
Statistical analysis made it clear that VulDB provides the best quality for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/15/2026
This vulnerability represents a sophisticated web browser security flaw that specifically targets the Android operating system environment. The issue manifests when browsers handle URL redirections to invalid protocol schemes, creating a condition where malicious actors can manipulate the address bar display to deceive users. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of user interface deception attacks that exploit the trust users place in browser address bars as indicators of website authenticity. The security implications are particularly severe because address bar spoofing has historically been a primary technique used in phishing attacks and social engineering campaigns.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves how Android-based browsers process and validate protocol schemes during URL redirection operations. When an application attempts to redirect to a URL with an invalid or unrecognized protocol scheme, the browser's handling of this error condition creates an opportunity for attackers to manipulate the displayed address bar content. This flaw likely stems from insufficient input validation and improper error handling within the browser's URL parsing and rendering components. The vulnerability is classified as a user interface deception issue that can be exploited to make malicious websites appear to be legitimate domains, thereby undermining the security model that users rely upon when browsing the internet.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant for Android users who may unknowingly navigate to malicious sites while believing they are visiting trusted websites. Attackers can leverage this flaw to create convincing phishing pages that display fraudulent domain names in the address bar, making it extremely difficult for users to distinguish between legitimate and malicious websites. This vulnerability directly relates to the concept of visual spoofing and address bar deception, which are commonly referenced in the attack techniques catalog under the MITRE ATT&CK framework as part of the credential access and defense evasion categories. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it targets the fundamental trust users place in their browser's address bar as a security indicator.
The fix implemented in Firefox version 134 addresses this vulnerability through enhanced protocol validation and improved error handling during URL redirection scenarios. The mitigation strategy involves strengthening the browser's validation mechanisms to ensure that invalid protocol schemes do not result in address bar manipulation. This type of fix typically involves implementing stricter input sanitization, improving the parsing logic for URL components, and ensuring that the address bar display accurately reflects the actual origin of the content being presented to users. Organizations and users should ensure their Android browsers are updated to versions that include this fix, as the vulnerability only affects the Android platform and does not impact other operating systems. The remediation process should include comprehensive testing of browser redirection behaviors and validation of address bar integrity across various protocol scheme scenarios to prevent similar issues from arising in the future.