CVE-2012-0625 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-2012-0625 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit, the web browser engine that powers Apple's iOS operating system and iTunes software. This vulnerability specifically affects Apple iOS versions prior to 5.1 and iTunes versions before 10.6, creating a significant security risk for users of these platforms. The flaw enables remote attackers to exploit web content through specially crafted websites, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or deliberate system crashes. Unlike other WebKit vulnerabilities documented in the same advisory period, this particular flaw demonstrates distinct characteristics that make it particularly dangerous for mobile and desktop environments where users frequently encounter web content from untrusted sources.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within WebKit's rendering engine, specifically in how it handles certain web page elements and data structures. Attackers can construct malicious web pages that, when loaded in a vulnerable browser, trigger memory corruption conditions that allow them to manipulate the application's memory space. This type of vulnerability typically involves buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors that occur when the browser engine fails to properly validate or sanitize input data from web pages. The flaw operates at the intersection of web content parsing and memory allocation, making it particularly challenging to detect and prevent through standard security measures.
The operational impact of CVE-2012-0625 extends beyond simple application crashes, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This means that users visiting malicious websites could have their devices compromised without any explicit user interaction beyond navigating to the harmful content. The vulnerability affects both iOS mobile devices and desktop iTunes installations, creating a broad attack surface that could be exploited across multiple Apple platforms. Security researchers have classified this issue under CWE-125, which addresses "Out-of-bounds Read" conditions, and potentially CWE-787, "Out-of-bounds Write," as these memory corruption patterns are fundamental to the exploitation mechanism. The attack vector is particularly concerning because it requires no user interaction beyond visiting a compromised website, making it a prime candidate for drive-by download attacks and social engineering campaigns.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected systems, as Apple released security updates in their respective software releases to address the memory corruption issues. Organizations should prioritize updating iOS devices to version 5.1 or later and iTunes installations to version 10.6 or higher to eliminate exposure to this vulnerability. Network administrators should consider implementing web content filtering solutions that can block known malicious domains and employ sandboxing techniques to limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of keeping web browser engines updated, as these components are frequently targeted by attackers due to their complex codebases and the high value of successful exploits. Security professionals should monitor for related vulnerabilities in WebKit implementations and maintain awareness of the ATT&CK framework's techniques for command and control operations that may leverage such memory corruption flaws for persistent access.