CVE-2009-1692 in iPhone OS
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit before r41741, as used in Apple iPhone OS 1.0 through 2.2.1, iPhone OS for iPod touch 1.1 through 2.2.1, Safari, and other software, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (memory consumption or device reset) via a web page containing an HTMLSelectElement object with a large length attribute, related to the length property of a Select object.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/04/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2009-1692 represents a significant denial of service flaw within the WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple Apple products and web browsers. This vulnerability specifically targets the handling of HTMLSelectElement objects when they contain excessively large length attributes, creating a condition where malicious web pages can trigger resource exhaustion or system instability. The issue was present in WebKit versions prior to revision 41741 and impacted Apple iPhone OS versions 1.0 through 2.2.1, iPod touch OS versions 1.1 through 2.2.1, and various Safari implementations. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign HTML elements can be exploited to cause system-level disruptions, highlighting the critical importance of proper input validation in web rendering engines.
The technical mechanism behind this vulnerability involves the improper handling of the length property within HTML select elements. When a web page contains a select element with an extremely large length attribute value, the WebKit engine fails to properly validate or limit the resource allocation required to process this attribute. This results in the browser consuming excessive memory resources or potentially causing the device to reset entirely. The vulnerability operates at the browser engine level rather than at the application layer, making it particularly dangerous as it can affect any device running the vulnerable WebKit version regardless of the specific application being used. This type of flaw falls under CWE-129 Input Validation and Output Encoding, specifically addressing improper validation of length parameters in HTML elements.
The operational impact of CVE-2009-1692 extends beyond simple service disruption to potentially compromise user device stability and availability. Mobile devices running affected versions of iPhone OS or iPod touch OS could experience complete system resets when visiting malicious web pages, leading to data loss and service interruption for users. The vulnerability affects both web browsing and application execution contexts since Safari and the mobile operating systems' web rendering capabilities are integral to device functionality. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to create persistent denial of service conditions, making it particularly concerning for mobile environments where device reliability is paramount. The exploit demonstrates the principle of resource exhaustion attacks that can be classified under the ATT&CK technique T1499.004 Network Denial of Service, where attackers manipulate system resources to render services unavailable.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate software updates and patches from Apple to address the WebKit rendering engine flaw. Users should ensure their devices are updated to the latest available versions of iPhone OS or iPod touch OS that contain the patched WebKit implementation. System administrators should monitor for affected software versions and implement network-level controls to prevent access to potentially malicious web content. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and the need for robust input validation mechanisms in web browsers. Organizations should also consider implementing web filtering solutions that can detect and block suspicious HTML content that might exploit similar vulnerabilities in rendering engines. Additionally, browser vendors should implement stricter bounds checking for HTML element properties and establish more comprehensive testing procedures for edge cases involving attribute values that could lead to resource exhaustion conditions.