CVE-2011-2868 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit, as used in Apple iOS before 5.1 and iTunes before 10.6, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted web site, a different vulnerability than other WebKit CVEs listed in APPLE-SA-2012-03-07-1 and APPLE-SA-2012-03-07-2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2011-2868 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit engine components that power Apple's mobile operating system and desktop media software. This vulnerability affects Apple iOS versions prior to 5.1 and iTunes versions before 10.6, creating a significant attack surface for remote threat actors who can leverage crafted web content to compromise system integrity. The flaw manifests through improper memory handling during web page rendering processes, specifically when processing malformed or specially constructed web content that triggers unexpected behavior in the underlying WebKit rendering engine.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation and memory management within WebKit's JavaScript engine and rendering components. Attackers can construct malicious web pages containing specially crafted JavaScript code or HTML elements that, when rendered by the affected WebKit versions, cause memory corruption issues. These memory corruption conditions typically occur when the browser attempts to allocate, access, or deallocate memory regions in an improper sequence, leading to unpredictable behavior that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple attack vectors including browser exploitation, memory corruption, and privilege escalation techniques.
The operational impact of CVE-2011-2868 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise through remote code execution capabilities. When successfully exploited, this vulnerability allows attackers to execute malicious code on target systems without user interaction, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently browse untrusted web content. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are common manifestations of memory corruption vulnerabilities. Additionally, this vulnerability maps to attack techniques within the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 category for JavaScript and T1059.001 for command and scripting interpreter, highlighting the exploitation methodology.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems through Apple's security updates, specifically iOS 5.1 and iTunes 10.6 releases. Organizations should implement network-based security controls including web content filtering and sandboxing measures to prevent access to malicious websites. Browser security configurations should be hardened through disabling unnecessary JavaScript features and implementing strict content security policies. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in browser engines, as similar issues have been documented in other WebKit-based browsers and operating systems. Security professionals should monitor for related vulnerabilities in the same codebase and implement layered defense strategies that include network segmentation, endpoint protection, and user behavior monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts.