CVE-2011-0113 in iTunes
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit, as used in Apple iTunes before 10.2 on Windows, allows man-in-the-middle attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via vectors related to iTunes Store browsing, a different vulnerability than other CVEs listed in APPLE-SA-2011-03-02-1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/18/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0113 represents a critical security flaw within Apple iTunes software running on Windows platforms prior to version 10.2. This issue specifically affects the WebKit rendering engine component that iTunes employs for displaying content from the iTunes Store. The vulnerability manifests as a man-in-the-middle attack vector that could potentially allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause denial of service conditions through memory corruption and application crashes. The flaw is particularly concerning because it operates at the level of web content rendering within a media application, creating an attack surface that extends beyond traditional web browsing scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of web content within the WebKit engine used by iTunes. When users navigate the iTunes Store interface on Windows systems, the application processes web-based content that may contain malicious payloads designed to exploit memory management issues within the rendering engine. The specific nature of the flaw involves how the WebKit engine manages memory allocation and deallocation when processing certain types of web content, particularly those related to iTunes Store browsing functionality. This memory corruption can lead to unpredictable application behavior including crashes or potentially more severe exploits that could allow code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application instability to encompass potential security breaches that could compromise user systems. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could potentially gain unauthorized code execution privileges on vulnerable Windows systems, creating opportunities for data theft, system compromise, or further attack escalation. The vulnerability's classification as a man-in-the-middle attack means that attackers could exploit it in network environments where they can intercept traffic between iTunes and Apple's servers, making it particularly dangerous in public or untrusted network conditions. The denial of service aspect also represents a significant risk as it could disrupt legitimate user access to iTunes Store services and potentially be used as a vector for more sophisticated attacks.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-119 which addresses "Improper Access to Memory" and represents a classic case of memory corruption that could be exploited through buffer overflow or related memory management flaws. The attack pattern associated with this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1203 for "Exploitation for Client Execution" as attackers could leverage the memory corruption to execute malicious code on target systems. The vulnerability's impact on a widely used media application like iTunes creates a significant risk for widespread exploitation across numerous user base. Organizations and individual users should prioritize updating to iTunes version 10.2 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as the patch addresses the underlying memory management issues within the WebKit engine that enable these attack vectors.
The broader implications of this vulnerability highlight the security risks associated with integrating web rendering capabilities into desktop applications, particularly when those applications handle sensitive user data and transactions. The vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly benign browsing functionality can become a critical security concern when proper input validation and memory management practices are not implemented. This flaw serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all software components, especially those that process untrusted web content. The remediation process for this vulnerability required users to upgrade their iTunes installations, which underscores the critical nature of timely security updates in preventing exploitation of known vulnerabilities.