CVE-2008-0729 in iPhone
Summary
by MITRE
Mobile Safari on Apple iPhone 1.1.2 and 1.1.3 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory exhaustion and device crash) via certain JavaScript code that constructs a long string and an array containing long string elements, possibly a related issue to CVE-2006-3677. NOTE: some of these details are obtained from third party information.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/14/2024
The vulnerability described in CVE-2008-0729 represents a critical memory management flaw within Apple's Mobile Safari browser implementation on iPhone devices running firmware versions 1.1.2 and 1.1.3. This issue stems from inadequate handling of JavaScript string and array operations that can lead to catastrophic system failures. The vulnerability operates through a specific exploitation pattern where remote attackers can craft malicious JavaScript code that constructs excessively long strings and arrays containing these long string elements. The flaw is particularly concerning as it demonstrates how seemingly benign JavaScript operations can be weaponized to exhaust system memory resources and ultimately crash the device.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves JavaScript code that leverages the browser's string manipulation capabilities to create memory exhaustion conditions. When Mobile Safari processes these constructed strings and arrays, the underlying memory management system fails to properly handle the resource allocation for such large data structures. This memory handling deficiency creates a condition where the device's available memory is rapidly consumed, leading to system instability and eventual device crash. The vulnerability is classified as a memory exhaustion attack pattern that aligns with CWE-400, which specifically addresses uncontrolled resource consumption vulnerabilities in software systems. The implementation flaw occurs at the JavaScript engine level where proper bounds checking and memory allocation limits are not adequately enforced during string and array construction operations.
The operational impact of CVE-2008-0729 extends beyond simple denial of service to represent a broader security concern for mobile device users. Users who encounter malicious web content or email attachments containing the exploited JavaScript code face immediate device instability and potential data loss. The vulnerability affects all iPhone users running the specified firmware versions, creating a widespread security risk that could be exploited by attackers to disrupt service for large user populations. The attack vector is particularly dangerous as it requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious webpage or opening a compromised email, making it a passive threat that can affect users without their knowledge. This vulnerability also demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and resource management in mobile browser implementations, as it represents a failure in the security architecture that should have prevented such resource exhaustion conditions.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2008-0729 primarily involve immediate firmware updates from Apple to address the underlying memory management issues in Mobile Safari. Users should prioritize upgrading to the latest available iPhone firmware versions that contain patches for this vulnerability. System administrators and security professionals should implement network-level protections such as web content filtering and JavaScript sandboxing to prevent exposure to malicious content. The vulnerability also highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of mobile browser implementations, particularly focusing on resource management and memory allocation behaviors. Organizations should consider deploying mobile device management solutions that can enforce security policies and prevent access to untrusted web content. Additionally, the vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of adhering to security standards such as those outlined in the OWASP Mobile Security Project, which emphasizes proper input validation and resource handling in mobile applications. The issue also relates to ATT&CK technique T1499.004 which covers network denial of service attacks, demonstrating how client-side vulnerabilities can be leveraged to create system-wide impact.