CVE-2012-3660 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit, as used in Apple iTunes before 10.7, 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-2012-09-12-1.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2024
CVE-2012-3660 represents a critical memory corruption vulnerability within WebKit engine components that were integrated into Apple iTunes version 10.6 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation during web content rendering processes, creating a condition where maliciously crafted web pages could trigger unauthorized code execution or system instability. The flaw specifically manifests when WebKit processes certain malformed HTML or JavaScript elements that lead to buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions in memory management routines.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through a remote code execution vector where attackers craft malicious websites containing specially formatted content that, when rendered by iTunes' embedded WebKit engine, causes memory corruption. This memory corruption can result in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the iTunes process, potentially allowing attackers to install malware, access sensitive data, or completely compromise the affected system. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates within a trusted application context, leveraging the legitimate web browsing capabilities of iTunes to deliver malicious payloads.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability affects users who may inadvertently visit compromised websites or receive malicious links through social engineering attacks. The vulnerability was particularly concerning because iTunes was widely used across different operating systems, including Windows and macOS, making the attack surface extensive. The memory corruption issues could also lead to denial of service conditions where legitimate iTunes usage would crash the application, disrupting normal user operations and potentially creating persistent availability issues.
Security researchers have classified this vulnerability under CWE-121 for heap-based buffer overflow conditions and CWE-125 for out-of-bounds read operations, both of which are fundamental memory safety issues that have been extensively documented in the cybersecurity community. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code through legitimate application interfaces. Organizations should prioritize patch management to update iTunes to version 10.7 or later, which contains the necessary memory safety improvements and code sanitization measures that address the underlying buffer overflow conditions. Additionally, network security controls such as web proxies and content filtering systems should be configured to monitor and block access to known malicious domains that may attempt to exploit this vulnerability.