CVE-2012-0627 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-2012-0627 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit engine components that power Apple's mobile operating system iOS and desktop iTunes application. This security weakness affects versions of iOS prior to 5.1 and iTunes prior to 10.6, creating a significant attack surface that malicious actors could exploit to gain unauthorized system access or disrupt normal application functionality. The vulnerability specifically resides in how WebKit processes certain web content, making it particularly dangerous as it can be triggered through routine web browsing activities on compromised websites.
The technical nature of this flaw involves improper memory management during web page rendering operations, leading to potential buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that allow attackers to manipulate memory contents. This type of vulnerability typically occurs when the WebKit engine fails to properly validate or sanitize input data from web pages, particularly when processing complex web content such as JavaScript, HTML, or multimedia elements. The flaw enables remote code execution because attackers can craft malicious web pages that, when loaded in a vulnerable browser environment, trigger memory corruption that can be leveraged to inject and execute arbitrary code on the target system.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability creates substantial risk for users who browse the internet regularly, as the attack vector requires no special privileges or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The potential for both remote code execution and denial of service makes this particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently encounter compromised web content. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-122, which covers buffer overflow conditions. Additionally, this weakness maps to attack techniques in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of timely security updates in mobile and desktop operating systems, as the flaw existed in widely distributed software versions. Organizations and individuals must maintain vigilant patch management practices to prevent exploitation of such memory corruption vulnerabilities that can serve as initial access vectors for more sophisticated attacks. Apple's release of security updates addressing this issue through iOS 5.1 and iTunes 10.6 represents the standard remediation approach for such vulnerabilities, emphasizing the need for continuous security monitoring and rapid response to emerging threats in the web browser ecosystem. The vulnerability's similarity to other WebKit-related issues referenced in Apple security advisories highlights the ongoing challenges in maintaining secure web rendering engines and the importance of comprehensive security testing across all browser components.