CVE-2012-3629 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-2012-3629 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit's JavaScript engine implementation that affected Apple Safari versions prior to 6.0. This vulnerability resides in the core rendering engine that powers Safari's web browsing capabilities and enables the execution of malicious code through specially crafted web content. The flaw manifests when the browser processes malformed JavaScript or HTML content that triggers improper memory handling within WebKit's engine, creating conditions that allow attackers to manipulate memory structures in ways that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under memory corruption patterns that are commonly classified as CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These memory corruption issues typically arise from insufficient input validation or improper bounds checking within the JavaScript engine's interpretation and execution processes. When a malicious web page contains crafted code that exploits these memory handling flaws, the browser's memory management system becomes compromised, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or execute malicious payloads directly within the browser's memory space.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to end users since it enables remote code execution without requiring any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The exploit can be delivered through various vectors including phishing campaigns, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements that leverage the browser's automatic execution of web content. Once exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to gain full control over the victim's browser session, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or further network infiltration. The denial of service aspect of this vulnerability means that even successful exploitation that doesn't result in code execution can still be used to crash the browser application, disrupting user productivity and potentially masking more serious attacks.
The attack pattern for this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for JavaScript and VBScript execution, where attackers leverage browser-based scripting languages to execute malicious code. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple browser compromise since it represents a foundational security issue within Apple's browser architecture that could potentially be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks. Organizations and users who remained on affected Safari versions were particularly vulnerable to targeted attacks that could exploit this memory corruption flaw to bypass traditional security measures and gain unauthorized access to sensitive information or systems. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently visit compromised websites, potentially leading to widespread system compromise across networked environments.