CVE-2012-3590 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit, as used in Apple Safari before 6.0, 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-2012-07-25-1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/03/2019
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2012-3590 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit engine components that were integral to Apple Safari browsers prior to version 6.0. This vulnerability falls under the category of remote code execution flaws that could be exploited through maliciously crafted web content, making it particularly dangerous for web-based attack scenarios. The flaw specifically affects the rendering and processing capabilities of WebKit, which serves as the core browser engine for Safari and numerous other applications. The vulnerability was disclosed in conjunction with Apple Security Advisory APPLE-SA-2012-07-25-1, indicating it was part of a broader set of WebKit-related security issues that required immediate attention from users and system administrators. This particular flaw demonstrated how memory corruption vulnerabilities in browser engines could provide attackers with extensive control over affected systems through seemingly benign web browsing activities.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within WebKit's JavaScript engine and rendering components. Attackers could craft specific web pages that would trigger buffer overflows, heap corruption, or other memory management errors when processed by the affected Safari versions. These memory corruption issues typically arise from inadequate input validation and bounds checking in the browser's rendering pipeline, allowing malicious code to overwrite critical memory locations or manipulate program execution flow. The flaw likely occurred during the processing of complex web content such as JavaScript objects, DOM manipulations, or multimedia elements that would cause the browser to allocate or reallocate memory in ways that could be exploited by attackers. Such vulnerabilities are classified under CWE-125 as "Out-of-bounds Read" and CWE-787 as "Out-of-bounds Write" in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog, demonstrating their fundamental nature as memory safety issues. The vulnerability's exploitation mechanism aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: JavaScript" and T1203 for "Exploitation for Client Execution."
The operational impact of CVE-2012-3590 was significant for users of affected Safari versions, as it could result in complete system compromise through remote code execution or cause reliable denial of service conditions that would render the browser unusable. Users visiting malicious websites would be automatically exposed to this vulnerability without requiring any special interaction beyond normal web browsing activities. The memory corruption could lead to application crashes, system instability, or more severe consequences including arbitrary code execution that would allow attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or take complete control of affected systems. The vulnerability's exploitation potential was particularly concerning given Safari's widespread use on macOS systems and its integration with various Apple services and applications. Organizations relying on Safari for business operations faced substantial risk from this flaw, as it could be leveraged in targeted attacks against corporate networks or used in mass phishing campaigns to compromise user devices.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2012-3590 focused primarily on immediate software updates and browser version upgrades to patched versions of Safari. Apple released Safari 6.0 and subsequent updates that addressed the memory corruption issues within WebKit, making it essential for users to install these security patches promptly. System administrators should have implemented immediate deployment of these updates across all affected devices and monitored for any signs of exploitation attempts. Additional protective measures included implementing browser security policies that restricted access to untrusted websites, deploying web application firewalls, and using security software that could detect and block malicious web content. The vulnerability highlighted the importance of keeping browser software updated and demonstrated how browser engine vulnerabilities could serve as primary attack vectors in sophisticated cyber campaigns. Organizations should have also considered implementing network-based monitoring to detect exploitation attempts and established incident response procedures for handling potential compromises. Security professionals recommended using sandboxing techniques and privilege separation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, while also emphasizing the need for regular security assessments of browser configurations and web application security practices.