CVE-2011-0155 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 • 01/26/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-0155 represents a critical security flaw in Apple iTunes version 10.1 and earlier on Windows platforms, specifically within the WebKit rendering engine component that handles iTunes Store browsing functionality. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of network communications and memory management during web content processing, creating an attack surface that adversaries could exploit to gain unauthorized system access or disrupt service availability. The flaw manifests during the execution of iTunes Store browsing operations, where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize incoming network data before processing it through the WebKit engine.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves memory corruption issues that occur when iTunes processes certain web content or responses from iTunes Store servers. Attackers can craft malicious network responses or manipulate the communication channel to trigger memory corruption conditions within the WebKit engine's memory management subsystem. This type of vulnerability typically falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions where programs access memory locations outside the intended bounds of allocated buffers. The memory corruption can manifest as heap corruption, stack corruption, or other memory management violations that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code or cause application crashes.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users of older iTunes versions on Windows systems, as it allows man-in-the-middle attackers to compromise system integrity. The attack vector requires network access to intercept or manipulate communications between iTunes and Apple's iTunes Store servers, making it particularly dangerous in public network environments or when users connect through untrusted networks. The potential impact includes complete system compromise through code execution, denial of service conditions that prevent legitimate iTunes usage, and possible data theft or modification of user information. The vulnerability's classification aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1557.001 for local network configuration and modification, as attackers could potentially manipulate the iTunes application's behavior through network-based attacks.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires attackers to position themselves between the user's iTunes application and Apple's iTunes Store servers, typically through network interception techniques such as ARP spoofing, DNS hijacking, or using compromised public Wi-Fi networks. Once successfully exploited, the memory corruption could result in application crashes that prevent normal iTunes functionality, or more critically, allow attackers to inject and execute malicious code with the privileges of the iTunes process. This represents a significant risk for users who rely on iTunes for music management, media purchases, and synchronization activities, as the compromised system could be used as a foothold for further attacks on the local network or as a platform for data exfiltration. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond immediate system compromise to include potential escalation to full system control, making it a critical security concern for enterprise and individual users alike.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate upgrading to iTunes version 10.2 or later, which includes patches specifically designed to address the memory corruption issues within the WebKit engine. Users should also implement network security measures such as network segmentation, secure DNS configurations, and monitoring for suspicious network activity that could indicate man-in-the-middle attacks. Organizations should consider implementing network access controls and regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in their software ecosystems. The fix addresses the root cause by implementing proper input validation and memory management practices within the WebKit rendering engine, ensuring that network data is properly sanitized before processing and that memory allocation and deallocation operations are handled safely to prevent corruption conditions that could be exploited by attackers.