CVE-2008-0035 in iPhone
Summary
by MITRE
Unspecified vulnerability in Foundation, as used in Apple iPhone 1.0 through 1.1.2, iPod touch 1.1 through 1.1.2, and Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.5.1, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application termination) or execute arbitrary code via a crafted URL that triggers memory corruption in Safari.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2008-0035 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the Foundation framework that underpins Apple's mobile and desktop operating systems. This issue affects a broad range of Apple products including the iPhone 1.0 through 1.1.2 versions, iPod touch 1.1 through 1.1.2, and Mac OS X 10.5 through 10.5.1 platforms. The Foundation framework serves as a core component providing essential services for application development and system operations across Apple's ecosystem. The flaw manifests when processing maliciously crafted URLs that trigger memory corruption within Safari's rendering engine, creating a pathway for remote exploitation.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within the Foundation framework's URL handling mechanisms. When Safari encounters a specially crafted URL, the parsing and processing routines fail to properly validate input parameters, leading to memory corruption that can result in application crashes or more severe exploitation opportunities. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which encompasses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The memory corruption occurs at the level where Foundation framework components interact with Safari's web rendering capabilities, creating a direct attack surface that adversaries can leverage.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0035 extends beyond simple denial of service conditions to encompass potential remote code execution capabilities that could allow attackers to gain unauthorized access to affected systems. When exploited, this vulnerability can cause applications to terminate unexpectedly, resulting in denial of service for end users, while simultaneously providing a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks. The attack vector through crafted URLs makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through standard web browsing activities, social engineering, or malicious email attachments. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 which describes the use of web-based attack techniques to execute malicious code on target systems.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires minimal user interaction, as simply visiting a malicious website or clicking on a crafted URL can trigger the memory corruption. Attackers can leverage this weakness to deliver payloads that bypass traditional security measures, as the vulnerability exists within core system components that are trusted by the operating system. The affected versions represent a critical window of exposure where Apple's Foundation framework contained insufficient input validation and memory safety checks. Organizations and users operating these affected versions face significant risk, as the vulnerability can be exploited without requiring specialized knowledge or equipment. The remediation approach involves immediate application of Apple's security patches and updates, which address the underlying memory corruption issues in the Foundation framework's URL processing routines. System administrators should prioritize patch deployment across all affected Apple platforms to mitigate the risk of exploitation and maintain operational security.