CVE-2016-1727 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit, as used in Apple iOS before 9.2.1, Safari before 9.0.3, and tvOS before 9.1.1, allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site, a different vulnerability than CVE-2016-1724.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/06/2022
This vulnerability resides within WebKit, the core rendering engine powering Apple's Safari browser and iOS web applications. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that can be exploited by remote attackers through maliciously crafted web content. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms including iOS versions prior to 9.2.1, Safari versions before 9.0.3, and tvOS versions before 9.1.1, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The memory corruption occurs when WebKit processes specially crafted web pages, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution or denial of service conditions. This vulnerability represents a critical security flaw that could enable attackers to compromise user devices without physical access or user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under memory corruption patterns commonly associated with buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions within WebKit's JavaScript engine or rendering components. Attackers can leverage this flaw by hosting malicious web content that triggers the memory corruption when the browser attempts to render or execute specific JavaScript code. The vulnerability operates at the intersection of browser security and memory management, where improper bounds checking or memory handling allows attackers to manipulate program execution flow. This type of flaw typically requires sophisticated exploitation techniques and often involves multiple steps including information disclosure, memory layout manipulation, and code injection to achieve full compromise.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1727 extends beyond simple denial of service to potentially enable complete system compromise. Remote attackers could execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the web browser process, which typically runs with user-level permissions but could potentially be escalated. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe given that it affects web browsing functionality, which represents one of the most common attack vectors for mobile and desktop systems. Users visiting compromised websites could be silently exploited without any visible warning signs, making this a stealthy and dangerous vulnerability. The fact that this affects multiple Apple platforms suggests a systemic issue within WebKit's architecture that required coordinated patching across different operating systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate patching of affected systems to the latest available versions. Apple released updates for iOS 9.2.1, Safari 9.0.3, and tvOS 9.1.1 to address this flaw. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management procedures to ensure all affected devices receive updates promptly. Network administrators can consider implementing web filtering solutions and browser security policies to limit exposure, though these measures are not foolproof given the nature of the vulnerability. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and may also relate to CWE-787, representing out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving initial access through web-based attacks and privilege escalation through browser exploitation, representing a significant threat to enterprise security infrastructure.