CVE-2015-5813 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
CVE-2015-5813 represents a critical memory corruption vulnerability within WebKit's JavaScript engine that affected Apple's mobile and desktop operating systems. This vulnerability resides in the rendering engine that powers Safari browsers and iTunes applications, creating a pathway for remote code execution through maliciously crafted web content. The flaw manifests when WebKit processes specific JavaScript code patterns that lead to improper memory handling, ultimately resulting in heap corruption that can be exploited by attackers to gain arbitrary code execution privileges.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves improper memory management within WebKit's JavaScriptCore engine, where certain operations with JavaScript objects trigger buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions. Attackers can construct malicious web pages containing specific JavaScript code that, when rendered by the affected WebKit versions, causes memory corruption in the application's heap. This memory corruption can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations, redirect execution flow, and ultimately execute attacker-controlled code with the privileges of the compromised application. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-122, heap-based buffer overflow, and CWE-476, NULL pointer dereference, which are common patterns in memory corruption exploits.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple application crashes to represent a full remote code execution threat that could compromise entire user systems. When exploited, the vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems with the same privileges as the compromised application, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The affected software versions include iOS 8 and earlier, as well as iTunes 12.2 and earlier, making a substantial portion of Apple's ecosystem vulnerable to this attack vector. Users browsing malicious websites or opening specially crafted web content could unknowingly trigger the exploit, making this a particularly dangerous vulnerability for widespread exploitation.
Security professionals should implement immediate mitigations including prompt installation of Apple's security updates, which addressed the vulnerability through memory management improvements and code validation changes within WebKit's JavaScript engine. Organizations should also consider network-level protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering solutions that can detect and block known malicious JavaScript patterns. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation in browser engines, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript and VBScript execution. Additionally, browser sandboxing and memory protection mechanisms should be enabled to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts, as outlined in defense-in-depth strategies recommended by NIST and other cybersecurity frameworks.