CVE-2016-10226 in WebKit
Summary
by MITRE
JavaScriptCore in WebKit, as distributed in Safari Technology Preview Release 18, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (bitfield out-of-bounds read and application crash) via crafted JavaScript code that is mishandled in the operatorString function, related to assembler/MacroAssemblerARM64.h, assembler/MacroAssemblerX86Common.h, and wasm/WasmB3IRGenerator.cpp.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/24/2022
This vulnerability exists within the JavaScriptCore engine component of WebKit, specifically affecting Safari Technology Preview Release 18. The flaw manifests as a bitfield out-of-bounds read condition that can be triggered through carefully crafted JavaScript code. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the low-level assembler level where memory operations are handled, making it a critical issue for web browser security. The affected files include assembler/MacroAssemblerARM64.h, assembler/MacroAssemblerX86Common.h, and wasm/WasmB3IRGenerator.cpp, indicating the vulnerability spans multiple architecture-specific implementations within the JavaScriptCore engine.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the operatorString function which fails to properly validate input parameters before processing bitfield operations. When malicious JavaScript code is executed, it manipulates the function in such a way that causes memory access violations in the underlying assembler code. This type of vulnerability represents a classic buffer over-read condition where the application attempts to read memory beyond the allocated boundaries of a bitfield structure. The out-of-bounds read can potentially expose sensitive memory contents or cause the application to crash entirely, leading to the denial of service condition.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-10226 is significant as it allows remote attackers to execute denial of service attacks against systems running the affected Safari Technology Preview release. Since this vulnerability exists in the JavaScript engine, any web page or web application that executes JavaScript code could potentially trigger the exploit. The application crash resulting from this vulnerability means that users may experience unexpected browser termination, requiring manual restart and potentially interrupting ongoing work sessions. This vulnerability particularly affects web developers and users who rely on the latest Safari technology preview features for testing and development purposes.
From a cybersecurity perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of the length of input data, and CWE-131, which covers improper handling of length parameters in the context of memory operations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a privilege escalation technique through code injection, as attackers can leverage this vulnerability to disrupt normal browser operations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in low-level system components. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to patched versions of Safari Technology Preview, implementing web application firewalls, and monitoring for suspicious JavaScript execution patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the critical need for thorough security testing of compiler and interpreter components within web browsers, particularly those handling complex operations like WebAssembly code generation and ARM64 architecture support.