CVE-2015-5807 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 • 06/18/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2015-5807 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within WebKit engine components that power Apple's mobile operating system iOS and desktop iTunes application. This vulnerability specifically affects versions of iOS prior to 9.0 and iTunes prior to 12.3, creating a significant security gap that adversaries could exploit to gain unauthorized code execution capabilities. The flaw manifests through maliciously crafted web content that, when rendered by the affected WebKit components, triggers unpredictable memory behavior leading to system instability.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within WebKit's rendering engine, which processes web content for display. Attackers can construct web pages containing specially formatted data structures that, when processed by the vulnerable WebKit implementation, cause memory corruption patterns that result in either arbitrary code execution or application crashes. This memory corruption typically occurs during the parsing or rendering of web elements, particularly those involving complex JavaScript interactions or multimedia content processing. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of memory management and web rendering, creating a pathway for attackers to bypass normal security boundaries and potentially gain system-level privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to users of affected Apple products since it can be exploited through standard web browsing activities. The attack vector requires only that a user navigate to a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous for widespread exploitation. The potential impacts include complete system compromise through arbitrary code execution, which could allow attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected devices. Additionally, the denial of service component of this vulnerability means that even successful exploitation without code execution could render devices unusable through application crashes and system instability.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125: "Out-of-bounds Read" and CWE-787: "Out-of-bounds Write" categories, representing classic memory corruption flaws that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature. From the MITRE ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving code injection and privilege escalation, potentially enabling adversaries to move laterally within compromised environments. The exploitation of this vulnerability would likely fall under the initial access and execution phases of the attack lifecycle, as it provides the fundamental capability for attackers to gain control over affected systems. Organizations should consider implementing network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to mitigate exposure while awaiting official patches from Apple. The remediation process requires immediate deployment of Apple's security updates, specifically iOS 9.0 and iTunes 12.3, which address the underlying memory corruption issues through improved input validation and memory management practices.