CVE-2008-3623 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in CoreGraphics in Apple Safari before 3.2 on Windows, in iPhone OS 1.0 through 2.2.1, and in iPhone OS for iPod touch 1.1 through 2.2.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted image, related to improper handling of color spaces.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/21/2019
This vulnerability represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow in Apple's CoreGraphics framework that affected multiple iOS versions and Safari on Windows. The flaw occurs when processing crafted images with malformed color space data, specifically in how the system handles color profile information during image rendering operations. The vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and bounds checking within the graphics processing pipeline where CoreGraphics fails to properly validate the size and structure of color space metadata in image files. This allows attackers to manipulate memory layout by overwriting adjacent heap allocations through carefully constructed image files that contain maliciously formatted color profile data.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the improper handling of color space specifications in image files, particularly when Safari processes images containing crafted ICC color profiles or other color management data. When the graphics engine attempts to parse these malformed color space definitions, it fails to validate the expected buffer sizes against actual data lengths, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution or denial of service. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within the core graphics rendering pipeline where image processing occurs, making it accessible through normal web browsing activities without requiring special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple Apple platforms including iPhone OS versions 1.0 through 2.2.1 and iPod touch versions 1.1 through 2.2.1, as well as Safari on Windows prior to version 3.2. This widespread exposure meant that attackers could potentially compromise a large user base through web-based attacks, with successful exploitation resulting in complete system compromise or application crashes. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 heap-based buffer overflow patterns and can be mapped to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter execution, as well as T1499.004 for network denial of service through resource exhaustion. The attack surface includes web content delivery, image processing, and graphics rendering components that are fundamental to mobile and desktop operating systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patching of affected iOS versions and Safari releases, with Apple releasing security updates that corrected the buffer overflow conditions in CoreGraphics color space handling. System administrators and users needed to apply these updates promptly to prevent exploitation, as the vulnerability was actively being exploited in the wild. Additional protective measures included implementing web content filtering, disabling image rendering for untrusted sources, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for exploitation attempts. The fix involved strengthening input validation routines within CoreGraphics to properly check color space data boundaries and implement proper memory allocation practices that prevent heap corruption during image processing operations. This vulnerability highlighted the importance of robust input validation in graphics processing libraries and demonstrated how seemingly benign image handling operations could serve as attack vectors for privilege escalation and system compromise.