CVE-2016-1778 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit in Apple iOS before 9.3 and Safari before 9.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption) via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/11/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-1778 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple WebKit rendering engine that affected iOS versions prior to 9.3 and Safari versions before 9.1. This vulnerability resides in the core browser engine responsible for processing web content and executing JavaScript within Apple's mobile and desktop operating systems. The flaw manifests through crafted web pages that can trigger unpredictable behavior in the WebKit component, potentially leading to unauthorized code execution or system instability. Such vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited through routine web browsing activities without any user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website.
The technical nature of this vulnerability involves memory corruption within WebKit's JavaScript engine, specifically in how it handles certain object allocations and memory management operations. Attackers can craft malicious web content that manipulates the memory layout of JavaScript objects, causing buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions that allow arbitrary code execution. This type of vulnerability typically falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. The flaw demonstrates how complex memory management in modern browser engines can create attack surfaces that adversaries can exploit to gain control over system resources.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-1778 extends far beyond simple denial of service conditions, as it provides attackers with the capability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. This means that users visiting malicious websites could have their devices compromised without any explicit user action, making it particularly dangerous in mobile environments where users frequently browse the internet. The vulnerability affects not only individual users but also enterprise environments where mobile devices are extensively used for business operations, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized access to corporate networks, or complete device compromise. The attack vector through web browsing makes it difficult to defend against since users cannot easily predict which websites might be compromised.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate system updates to the patched versions of iOS 9.3 and Safari 9.1, which address the underlying memory corruption issues in WebKit. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management policies that ensure all mobile devices are updated promptly when security patches become available. Network administrators can deploy web filtering solutions and browser security extensions to provide additional layers of protection, though these measures are not foolproof against zero-day exploits. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of maintaining up-to-date threat intelligence feeds and implementing security monitoring that can detect anomalous behavior patterns associated with exploitation attempts. From an attack prevention perspective, this vulnerability aligns with techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 sub-technique for scripting languages, specifically targeting mobile browser environments where JavaScript execution can be leveraged for privilege escalation and code injection attacks.