CVE-2026-47430 Overview
CVE-2026-47430 affects the iOS implementation of cordova-plugin-inappbrowser. The plugin passes the id field from a WKScriptMessage body directly to commandDelegate sendPluginResult:callbackId: without format validation. The vulnerable code resides in CDVWKInAppBrowser.m at lines 560–574. Web content rendered inside the InAppBrowser can fire any pending Cordova callback in the host application by posting a message containing a guessable callback identifier. The flaw is classified as Improper Input Validation [CWE-20] and affects versions 3.1.0 through 6.0.0 of the plugin.
Critical Impact
An unauthenticated remote attacker controlling content in the InAppBrowser can spoof results from other installed Cordova plugins, including Camera, Contacts, File, and Geolocation.
Affected Products
- Apache Cordova Plugin InAppBrowser 3.1.0 through 6.0.0 (iOS implementation)
- iOS applications embedding the vulnerable plugin
- Hybrid mobile apps using Cordova with InAppBrowser for OAuth, marketing, or deep-link flows
Discovery Timeline
- 2026-06-08 - CVE-2026-47430 published to NVD
- 2026-06-08 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2026-47430
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability stems from missing input validation on the id field of inbound WKScriptMessage bodies. When web content inside the InAppBrowser calls window.webkit.messageHandlers.cordova_iab.postMessage(...), the plugin forwards the supplied id value directly to the Cordova command delegate. The delegate resolves the value as a callback identifier and dispatches a CDVPluginResult to that callback. Because Cordova generates callback IDs using the predictable pattern <PluginName><sequential-integer>, attackers can enumerate identifiers for any installed plugin and fire arbitrary pending callbacks across trust boundaries.
Root Cause
The InAppBrowser bridge treats the id parameter as trusted plugin-internal data. The iOS native handler does not verify that the callback ID originated from the InAppBrowser itself or that it belongs to a callback registered by the InAppBrowser plugin. Any string supplied by remote web content reaches commandDelegate sendPluginResult:callbackId: unfiltered, breaking the isolation between plugins.
Attack Vector
A remote attacker controls content loaded inside the InAppBrowser through an OAuth redirect, a marketing link, a deep-link target, or a network interception. The attacker's JavaScript posts a message such as window.webkit.messageHandlers.cordova_iab.postMessage({id: 'Camera1234567890', d: '<forged result>'}). The native bridge dispatches the forged result to the Camera plugin's pending callback. Attackers can inject a forged camera approval, a fabricated contacts list, or a crafted file-read response into the host application. Refer to the Apache Mailing List Thread and the Openwall OSS-Security Update for technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2026-47430
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected WKScriptMessage traffic to the cordova_iab message handler containing id values that match other plugin name prefixes such as Camera, Contacts, File, or Geolocation.
- InAppBrowser sessions loading third-party URLs immediately followed by plugin result callbacks the user did not initiate.
- Application logs showing plugin callbacks resolving with data shapes inconsistent with the originating native plugin.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect mobile application bundles for cordova-plugin-inappbrowser versions between 3.1.0 and 6.0.0 inclusive.
- Add runtime instrumentation to log WKScriptMessageid values and flag identifiers whose prefix does not belong to InAppBrowser-owned callbacks.
- Review OAuth and deep-link landing pages opened by the InAppBrowser for injected scripts targeting window.webkit.messageHandlers.cordova_iab.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Monitor mobile telemetry for hybrid apps that combine InAppBrowser with sensitive native plugins such as Camera, Contacts, File, or Geolocation.
- Track network egress from mobile devices to domains rendered inside InAppBrowser sessions to identify suspicious script delivery.
- Audit application crash and callback error logs for misrouted plugin results indicating cross-plugin callback dispatch.
How to Mitigate CVE-2026-47430
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade cordova-plugin-inappbrowser to version 6.0.1, which validates the id field before dispatching callbacks.
- Rebuild and redistribute affected iOS applications through the App Store or enterprise distribution channels.
- Restrict the URLs the InAppBrowser is permitted to load using an explicit allowlist of trusted origins.
Patch Information
The Apache Cordova project fixed the issue in cordova-plugin-inappbrowser 6.0.1. The fix enforces format validation on the id field received from WKScriptMessage bodies, preventing the bridge from dispatching arbitrary callback identifiers. Users on any version from 3.1.0 through 6.0.0 must upgrade. See the Apache Mailing List Thread for the official advisory.
Workarounds
- Remove or disable the InAppBrowser plugin until the application can be rebuilt with version 6.0.1.
- Configure a strict Content Security Policy on any in-app web content and avoid loading third-party URLs in the InAppBrowser.
- Avoid using InAppBrowser for OAuth flows that involve untrusted intermediate redirects; use SFSafariViewController or ASWebAuthenticationSession instead.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
