CVE-2007-5450 in iPhone
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Safari on the Apple iPod touch (aka iTouch) and iPhone 1.1.1 allows user-assisted remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash), and enable filesystem browsing by the local user, via a certain TIFF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2007-5450 represents a critical security flaw in Apple's Safari web browser implementation on mobile devices, specifically affecting the iPod touch and iPhone running firmware version 1.1.1. This issue demonstrates the complex security challenges inherent in mobile operating systems where web browsing components interact with local file systems and device resources. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and error handling within Safari's image processing capabilities when handling TIFF file formats, creating exploitable conditions that can be leveraged by malicious actors. The unspecified nature of the vulnerability suggests it likely involves memory corruption or buffer overflow conditions that occur during image parsing operations, though the exact technical mechanism remains documented in proprietary security databases.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through user-assisted remote attack vectors where an attacker must convince a victim to open a specifically crafted TIFF file through the Safari browser. When Safari attempts to process the malformed TIFF file, the application experiences memory corruption that leads to an application crash and subsequent denial of service condition. However, the vulnerability extends beyond simple crash conditions as it also enables local filesystem browsing capabilities for the compromised user. This dual nature of the vulnerability creates a particularly dangerous attack surface where an attacker can not only disrupt service but also gain unauthorized access to local file system resources, potentially exposing sensitive user data, application files, or system configurations.
The operational impact of CVE-2007-5450 is significant for users of affected Apple devices, as it represents a fundamental breach in the security model of mobile web browsing. The denial of service component can be exploited to repeatedly crash the Safari application, rendering web browsing capabilities unavailable and potentially affecting other applications that depend on the browser's underlying libraries. The filesystem browsing capability introduces a more severe risk where attackers can access local files that may contain personal information, cached web content, application data, or other sensitive material. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-129, which covers invalid input validation issues, both of which are common in image processing libraries. The attack pattern follows ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, where the exploitation may involve manipulating browser processes to access system resources.
The security implications extend beyond immediate device compromise as this vulnerability demonstrates the risks associated with mobile device operating systems that integrate web browsing capabilities with local system access. Mobile platforms often lack the traditional security boundaries found in desktop environments, making vulnerabilities like this particularly dangerous. The user-assisted nature of the attack requires social engineering components but does not require complex network infrastructure, making it accessible to a broad range of threat actors. Organizations and individuals using these affected devices should implement immediate mitigation strategies including firmware updates, browser security restrictions, and user education about avoiding untrusted file attachments. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of proper input validation in mobile application development and the need for comprehensive security testing of image processing components in mobile browsers.