CVE-2013-1044 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit, as used in Apple iOS before 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-2013-09-18-2.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/01/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2013-1044 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit engine components that power Apple iOS applications and web browsing functionality. This issue affects iOS versions prior to version 7 and demonstrates how web-based attack vectors can compromise system integrity through sophisticated memory manipulation techniques. The vulnerability operates through a crafted website that, when loaded in a web browser or web view component, triggers unpredictable memory behavior leading to arbitrary code execution or system instability.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within WebKit's rendering engine, specifically targeting how the browser handles certain web page elements and JavaScript execution contexts. Attackers can construct malicious web content that exploits buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory corruption patterns that allow them to overwrite critical memory segments. These memory corruption issues typically arise from inadequate bounds checking during dynamic memory allocation and deallocation processes, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow through carefully crafted input data.
The operational impact of CVE-2013-1044 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise through arbitrary code execution capabilities. When exploited, this vulnerability can allow remote attackers to execute malicious code with the privileges of the affected application, which in iOS contexts typically means access to user data, system resources, and potentially escalation to system-level privileges. The denial of service component of this vulnerability can render affected devices unusable through repeated crashes or memory exhaustion attacks that prevent normal application functionality.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution, and demonstrates the importance of proper memory management practices in browser engines. From an adversarial perspective, this flaw fits within the ATT&CK framework's technique T1203, representing exploitation of software vulnerabilities, specifically targeting browser rendering engines as attack vectors. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that attackers do not require physical access to devices, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently visit untrusted websites.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2013-1044 primarily focus on immediate system updates and patch management, as Apple's release of iOS 7 addressed the underlying memory corruption issues through enhanced bounds checking and memory management routines. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch deployment processes and consider network-level protections such as web filtering solutions that can block access to known malicious domains. Additionally, user education regarding safe browsing practices and the avoidance of untrusted websites remains crucial in reducing exploitation risk, particularly in enterprise environments where mobile device security is paramount for protecting sensitive organizational data.