CVE-2015-5806 in iTunes
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit, as used in Apple iOS before 9 and iTunes before 12.3, 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-2015-09-16-1 and APPLE-SA-2015-09-16-3.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/22/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5806 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit's JavaScript engine implementation that affected Apple's iOS versions prior to 9.0 and iTunes versions before 12.3. This vulnerability demonstrates the inherent complexity and risk associated with modern web browsers that must process untrusted content while maintaining robust security boundaries between user-facing interfaces and system resources. The flaw specifically resides in how WebKit handles certain JavaScript objects during memory management operations, creating an exploitable condition that could be triggered through maliciously crafted web content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within WebKit's JavaScriptCore engine, where specific object manipulation patterns could lead to heap corruption when processing crafted JavaScript code. This type of memory corruption vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory management and object lifecycle handling, where the JavaScript engine fails to properly validate memory boundaries when processing certain object references during garbage collection cycles. Attackers could leverage this weakness by hosting malicious web content that, when rendered in a WebKit-based browser, would trigger the memory corruption through carefully constructed JavaScript operations that exploit the underlying implementation flaw.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-5806 extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass both persistent and transient attack vectors that could compromise user devices. When exploited, this vulnerability could enable attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to full system compromise. The attack surface includes not only web browsing scenarios but also any application that embeds WebKit components for rendering web content, making the impact particularly broad given WebKit's widespread adoption across various platforms and applications. The vulnerability's classification as a denial of service condition indicates that even successful exploitation might not always result in complete system compromise, but could still cause persistent application crashes or system instability that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks.
Security practitioners should recognize this vulnerability as part of the broader ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter, where attackers leverage browser-based scripting environments to establish execution footholds. The remediation approach requires immediate patching of affected systems through Apple's security updates, specifically iOS 9.0 and iTunes 12.3 releases that addressed the underlying memory management issues. Organizations should implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains while ensuring comprehensive patch management procedures are in place to maintain system integrity. Additionally, user education regarding safe browsing practices and awareness of social engineering tactics that might deliver malicious web content remains crucial in mitigating exploitation risks associated with this class of vulnerability.