External risk intelligence

InAppBrowser Callback Spoofing Vulnerability in Cordova Plugin

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.5)

CVE-2026-47430

The vulnerability exists within a mobile application plugin used to render web content. While it is reachable via web content loaded in the browser, this requires the application to load untrusted or malicious remote content, which is not a default or common public-facing network service exposed to the internet, but rather a client-side component within a mobile application.

Apache Cordova Inappbrowser

3.1.0 to before 6.0.1

Halo Surface Signal: 2 out of 5 — less likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

This vulnerability affects a component used within mobile applications for displaying web content, potentially allowing malicious web content to trick the app into executing unintended commands. While an attacker needs to control the web content displayed in the InAppBrowser, this could be achieved through various means like a malicious link or network interception. The core issue lies in how user-provided data is handled, which could lead to spoofed results for other app features like camera or contact access.

Web content could trick apps into running commands.
Impacts apps using InAppBrowser for web content.
Confirm relevance and exposure to user data.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker who can control web content displayed within the app's InAppBrowser, potentially through a malicious link or redirected URL, can trigger the vulnerability. This control allows them to send specially crafted messages that can execute arbitrary Cordova callbacks, mimicking legitimate plugin actions and potentially exposing sensitive data or functionalities. The attack is more feasible if the attacker can enumerate or guess common callback identifiers used by installed plugins.

Requires attacker to control loaded web content.
Attacker crafts messages to trigger callbacks.
Risk of spoofed plugin results.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

A web attacker controlling content in the InAppBrowser could trigger existing app functionalities, potentially leading to spoofed plugin results. This could happen when an app opens a malicious URL or when network traffic is intercepted.

App functionalities and sensitive data.
Malicious web content or network interception.
Spoofed plugin results across trust boundaries.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

Real-world responsibility for this vulnerability likely falls to application owners who integrate the `cordova-plugin-inappbrowser` into their mobile applications, as they control the plugins used and the content loaded. Platform or mobile development teams may also be involved in managing dependencies and applying updates. The first practical step is to identify all applications using this plugin, determine their exposure, and confirm if they are business-critical to prioritize remediation efforts.

Application owners must own this issue.
Verify app inventory and plugin usage.
Plan targeted remediation and vendor coordination.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

Halo Threat Intelligence helps prioritize remediation with Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context. Start exposure validation with a free external attack surface trial.

Free EASM Trial See How Signal Works

Frequently asked questions

What is the cordova-plugin-inappbrowser used for in mobile apps?

This component allows developers to build hybrid mobile applications that display external web content directly within the app interface. It acts as a bridge, enabling the web view to interact with device-specific features—such as accessing the camera, contacts, or geolocation—by using Cordova plugins that provide native functionality to the embedded web page.

How does CVE-2026-47430 allow an attacker to spoof plugin actions?

The flaw is a form of Improper Input Validation (CWE-20). In the affected versions, the plugin fails to check the formatting of incoming messages from the web view. Because the application blindly trusts the identifier provided by the web content, an attacker can send a forged message that mimics the expected format of a legitimate plugin request, tricking the host application into executing that command as if it originated from a trusted source.

What must occur for this vulnerability to be triggered?

An attacker must successfully force the mobile application to load web content that they control. This could happen if a user clicks a malicious link, follows a manipulated OAuth redirect, or if network traffic is intercepted to inject malicious code. The vulnerability cannot be triggered if the InAppBrowser only navigates to trusted, static content that the attacker cannot influence or redirect.

Is my app vulnerable according to Halo Surface Signal?

Halo Surface Signal indicates that exploitation is unlikely for many standard apps. While the plugin is vulnerable, it is not a traditional network service listening for connections. The risk specifically depends on whether your app loads untrusted remote web content. If your application exclusively opens local files or URLs under your strict control, the path for an attacker to inject these messages is significantly limited.

How should I respond to this InAppBrowser issue?

Your first step is to perform an inventory of your mobile projects to identify which applications include cordova-plugin-inappbrowser versions between 3.1.0 and 6.0.0. Once identified, prioritize updating the dependency to version 6.0.1. This update introduces the necessary input validation to ensure the application no longer processes unverified, potentially malicious callback identifiers.

References

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.