CVE-2012-0619 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-2012-0619 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit, the rendering engine that powers Apple's Safari browser and integrated web capabilities across iOS devices and iTunes applications. This vulnerability specifically affects Apple iOS versions prior to 5.1 and iTunes versions before 10.6, creating a significant attack surface for remote adversaries who can leverage malicious web content to compromise system integrity. The flaw manifests through crafted websites that trigger memory corruption conditions, potentially enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code or induce denial of service conditions that result in application crashes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability resides in how WebKit processes certain web content, particularly when handling memory allocation and deallocation during web page rendering. When users visit maliciously crafted websites, the WebKit engine encounters malformed or specially constructed data that causes improper memory handling, leading to buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption scenarios. These memory corruption issues can be exploited to overwrite critical memory locations, potentially allowing attackers to inject and execute malicious code within the context of the affected applications. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities, both of which are common precursors to arbitrary code execution exploits.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0619 extends beyond simple application crashes, as it provides attackers with potential pathways for complete system compromise. When exploited successfully, this vulnerability can enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to full device compromise, data exfiltration, or persistent backdoor installation. The vulnerability affects not only web browsing but also iTunes functionality, creating multiple attack vectors for threat actors targeting Apple ecosystems. This makes it particularly dangerous as users may inadvertently encounter malicious content while browsing the web or downloading content through iTunes, with no explicit user interaction required to trigger the exploit.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to the patched versions of iOS 5.1 and iTunes 10.6, which contain the necessary code modifications to prevent the memory corruption conditions. Organizations should implement network-level controls to block access to known malicious domains and consider deploying web filtering solutions that can detect and prevent access to potentially compromised websites. Security monitoring should focus on detecting unusual application behavior, unexpected crashes, or memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation, with potential TTPs including initial access through malicious web content and execution via memory corruption exploits. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date software patches and implementing comprehensive vulnerability management programs to prevent similar issues from affecting enterprise environments.