CVE-2025-9186 in Firefox
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2025
Spoofing issue in the Address Bar component of Firefox Focus for Android. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 142.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/12/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-9186 represents a spoofing issue within the address bar component of Firefox Focus for Android, a mobile browser application designed for privacy-focused browsing. This security flaw specifically impacts versions of Firefox prior to 142, creating a potential avenue for malicious actors to deceive users about the authenticity of websites they are visiting. The address bar serves as a critical user interface element for verifying website identity and security status, making any compromise of this component particularly concerning for user safety and trust.
The technical nature of this spoofing vulnerability stems from insufficient validation or sanitization of URL display elements within the browser's address bar functionality. Attackers can potentially manipulate how web addresses appear to users, creating misleading representations that may disguise malicious websites as legitimate ones. This type of vulnerability falls under the broader category of user interface deception attacks where the attacker exploits the trust users place in visual indicators to gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or perform malicious actions. The flaw likely involves improper handling of URL components, such as domain names, protocols, or special characters that could be used to manipulate the display format.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple visual deception to potentially enable sophisticated phishing attacks and credential theft operations. Users browsing with affected versions of Firefox Focus for Android may be tricked into believing they are visiting secure websites when they are actually interacting with malicious domains designed to capture personal information, login credentials, or financial data. This risk is particularly elevated in mobile environments where users may be less vigilant about examining URL details due to smaller screen sizes and different browsing behaviors compared to desktop environments. The vulnerability creates an attack surface that could be exploited in conjunction with other techniques to maximize the effectiveness of social engineering campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate updating of Firefox Focus to version 142 or later, which would contain the necessary patches to address the address bar spoofing issue. Organizations should implement comprehensive mobile device management policies that enforce automatic updates for security-critical applications, particularly those handling sensitive user data. Security teams should also conduct regular vulnerability assessments of mobile browser applications to identify similar issues before they can be exploited. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-601 URL Redirector Abuse, which describes weaknesses in applications that fail to properly validate or sanitize URL redirects, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1566.002 for phishing via email and web content, as the spoofing capability directly enables more effective phishing campaigns. Additionally, users should be educated about the importance of verifying website URLs, particularly when entering sensitive information, and should be trained to recognize potential signs of address bar manipulation.