CVE-2015-7011 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit, as used in Apple Safari before 9.0.1 and iTunes before 12.3.1, 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-2015-10-21-3 and APPLE-SA-2015-10-21-5.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/24/2022
CVE-2015-7011 represents a critical memory corruption vulnerability within WebKit engine that affected Apple Safari versions prior to 9.0.1 and iTunes versions before 12.3.1. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The flaw exists in how WebKit processes certain web content, particularly when handling crafted malicious websites that exploit memory management issues in the browser engine. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability by hosting specially crafted web pages that, when loaded in affected browsers, would trigger memory corruption leading to potential arbitrary code execution or application crashes. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of multiple attack vectors as outlined in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1059.003 for command and script injection, and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation. The memory corruption aspect specifically aligns with ATT&CK technique T1068 which covers exploit for privilege escalation. This vulnerability demonstrates the inherent risks in complex web rendering engines where improper memory management can create attack surfaces that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to systems.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation within WebKit's rendering engine. When processing malicious web content, the engine fails to properly validate memory boundaries, allowing attackers to manipulate memory locations through crafted input. This type of vulnerability typically occurs in environments where developers must manually manage memory allocation, and where insufficient bounds checking occurs during memory operations. The impact extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially full system compromise, as memory corruption can be leveraged to execute malicious payloads directly in the context of the vulnerable application. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw means that no local access is required for exploitation, making it particularly dangerous as attackers can deliver malicious payloads through standard web browsing activities. The fact that this vulnerability was separate from other WebKit CVEs listed in APPLE-SA-2015-10-21-3 and APPLE-SA-2015-10-21-5 indicates it was a distinct memory management issue rather than a variant of previously discovered flaws, highlighting the complexity of maintaining secure web rendering engines.
The operational impact of CVE-2015-7011 is significant for organizations and individual users who relied on affected Apple products for web browsing and media management. Users could be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites, making this a highly dangerous vulnerability for both personal and enterprise environments. The vulnerability's potential for denial of service combined with remote code execution capabilities creates multiple attack scenarios that could be exploited for data theft, system compromise, or disruption of services. Organizations running affected versions of Safari or iTunes were particularly vulnerable to targeted attacks where adversaries could use this vulnerability to establish persistent access to systems. The attack surface was further expanded by the fact that iTunes was commonly used for media management, potentially allowing attackers to compromise systems through various media-related activities. This vulnerability also highlighted the broader security implications of web browser engines, as similar memory corruption issues in other browsers could present comparable risks to users. The vulnerability's exploitation required no specialized tools beyond standard web browsing capabilities, making it accessible to attackers with minimal technical expertise.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2015-7011 primarily centered on immediate patching and updating of affected Apple products to the patched versions. Users were strongly advised to upgrade to Safari 9.0.1 and iTunes 12.3.1 or later versions to address the memory corruption issues. Network administrators should have implemented browser security measures including content filtering and web application firewalls to prevent access to known malicious sites. The vulnerability also underscored the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing robust update management processes. Organizations should have conducted vulnerability assessments to identify systems running affected versions and prioritized remediation efforts. Additional mitigations included browser hardening techniques such as disabling unnecessary plugins, implementing sandboxing measures, and using security extensions to limit potential attack surfaces. The vulnerability also highlighted the need for regular security audits of web rendering components and the importance of following secure coding practices to prevent similar memory corruption issues in the future. Incident response procedures should have been updated to include specific protocols for handling potential exploitation of this vulnerability, including network monitoring for suspicious traffic patterns and system behavior anomalies that might indicate successful exploitation attempts.