CVE-2012-3625 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 • 01/04/2025
The vulnerability described in CVE-2012-3625 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit's JavaScript engine that affected Apple Safari versions prior to 6.0. This issue stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation during web page rendering processes, creating a pathway for remote code execution through maliciously crafted web content. The vulnerability specifically targets the JavaScriptCore engine component of WebKit, which is responsible for executing JavaScript code within web browsers. Attackers could exploit this weakness by hosting malicious web pages that trigger specific memory corruption conditions, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution on vulnerable systems.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-119, which addresses memory corruption issues where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. The flaw manifests as a heap-based buffer overflow or use-after-free condition within the JavaScript engine's memory management subsystem. When Safari processes specially crafted web content, the flawed memory handling causes the application to corrupt its own memory space, resulting in either arbitrary code execution or application crash. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered automatically when users visit compromised websites, requiring no user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to users of older Safari versions as it enables remote attackers to gain full control over affected systems. The exploitability characteristics make it a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors and cybercriminals who seek to establish persistent access to user machines. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that attackers can deploy malware, steal sensitive information, or create backdoors without requiring physical access to the target system. The denial of service component of this vulnerability compounds the risk by allowing attackers to repeatedly crash the browser, potentially disrupting user productivity or masking more sophisticated attacks.
Organizations and individuals should prioritize immediate remediation by upgrading to Safari 6.0 or later versions that contain the necessary patches addressing this memory corruption vulnerability. The mitigation strategy should include implementing browser security policies that enforce automatic updates, deploying web application firewalls to filter malicious content, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications to identify potential exploitation vectors. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping their browsers updated. Security professionals should monitor for related vulnerabilities in the WebKit ecosystem and consider implementing network-based detection mechanisms to identify exploitation attempts targeting this and similar memory corruption flaws. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date browser software and highlights the need for comprehensive security practices that address both client-side and server-side attack vectors.