CVE-2012-0607 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 • 01/11/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-0607 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit engine components that power Apple's iOS and iTunes applications. This vulnerability specifically affects versions of Apple iOS prior to 5.1 and iTunes versions before 10.6, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors could exploit to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities. The flaw manifests through specially crafted websites that, when loaded in the affected browsers or applications, trigger memory corruption issues leading to arbitrary code execution or application crashes. This vulnerability operates outside the scope of other WebKit-related CVEs referenced in APPLE-SA-2012-03-07-1 and APPLE-SA-2012-03-07-2, indicating it represents a distinct code path or memory handling issue within the WebKit rendering engine.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within WebKit's JavaScript engine or rendering components, where malicious web content can manipulate memory structures in ways that were not properly validated or sanitized. When a user visits an attacker-controlled website, the malicious code can leverage buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption patterns to overwrite critical memory locations. These memory corruption issues can be exploited to redirect program execution flow, inject malicious code, or cause the targeted application to crash through controlled memory access violations. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple application instability as it provides a pathway for full system compromise through remote code execution capabilities.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates a substantial risk for users of affected Apple products, as it requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages the web browser's rendering engine to execute code on the target system, bypassing traditional security boundaries. Security professionals categorize this vulnerability under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and potentially CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. The exploitability of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the use of scripting languages for execution, and T1203, which encompasses the exploitation of remote services or applications for code execution.
Organizations and individual users must implement immediate mitigations to protect against this vulnerability, including upgrading to patched versions of iOS 5.1 and iTunes 10.6 or later. System administrators should ensure that all affected devices are updated through official Apple channels, as these patches typically include memory safety improvements and enhanced input validation. Network security teams should consider implementing web filtering solutions that can block access to known malicious domains and monitor for suspicious web traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, users should exercise caution when visiting untrusted websites and maintain awareness of phishing campaigns that might leverage this vulnerability to deliver malicious payloads. The vulnerability's presence in both mobile and desktop environments underscores the importance of comprehensive patch management strategies across all Apple products within an organization's infrastructure.