CVE-2012-0587 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in WebKit, as used in Apple iOS before 5.1, allows remote attackers to inject arbitrary web script or HTML via unspecified vectors, a different vulnerability than CVE-2012-0586, CVE-2012-0588, and CVE-2012-0589.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0587 represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw within the WebKit rendering engine that powers Apple iOS devices prior to version 5.1. This vulnerability resides in the core browser component responsible for processing and displaying web content, making it a fundamental security concern for mobile device users. The flaw enables remote attackers to execute malicious scripts within the context of a user's browsing session, potentially compromising sensitive data and user privacy. WebKit's widespread use across Apple's mobile ecosystem meant that this vulnerability could affect millions of iOS users who relied on the device's web browsing capabilities for daily activities including banking, email, and social media interactions.
The technical nature of this XSS vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation and output sanitization within WebKit's processing pipeline. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web content that, when rendered by the vulnerable iOS browser, would execute arbitrary JavaScript code or inject harmful HTML elements. The unspecified vectors suggest that the vulnerability could be triggered through various means including malformed URLs, crafted HTTP headers, or manipulated web page content that bypasses normal security checks implemented by the browser engine. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, specifically representing a weakness where web applications fail to properly validate or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into dynamically generated web pages.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0587 extends beyond simple script execution, as it provides attackers with the capability to perform session hijacking, steal user credentials, manipulate web page content, and potentially access sensitive information stored within the browser context. Mobile users were particularly vulnerable since iOS devices often contained personal data, financial information, and corporate credentials that could be compromised through successful exploitation. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple iOS versions meant that users who had not updated their devices remained at risk, creating a significant attack surface for threat actors who could leverage this weakness to conduct large-scale campaigns targeting iOS users. This type of vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 which describes social engineering attacks that can include the use of malicious web content to compromise systems.
The security implications of this vulnerability highlight the critical importance of timely patch management and browser security updates in mobile environments. Organizations and individuals who failed to update their iOS devices to version 5.1 or later remained exposed to potential exploitation by threat actors who could craft targeted attacks against specific user groups or organizations. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution risk through web-based vectors means that users could be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites or clicking on compromised links in email communications. Security professionals should have recognized this as a high-priority vulnerability requiring immediate attention, particularly given the widespread use of iOS devices in enterprise environments where sensitive data access and processing occurs regularly. The vulnerability's relationship to other WebKit-related issues such as CVE-2012-0586, CVE-2012-0588, and CVE-2012-0589 demonstrates the broader security concerns affecting Apple's mobile browser engine and the need for comprehensive security assessments of core platform components.