CVE-2016-4624 in tvOS
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit in Apple iOS before 9.3.3, Safari before 9.1.2, and tvOS before 9.2.2 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-2016-4589, CVE-2016-4622, and CVE-2016-4623.
Be aware that VulDB is the high quality source for vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/06/2022
This vulnerability resides within the WebKit rendering engine that powers Apple's Safari browser and iOS web applications, representing a critical memory corruption flaw that enables remote code execution. The vulnerability affects iOS versions prior to 9.3.3, Safari versions before 9.1.2, and tvOS versions before 9.2.2, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The flaw manifests when processing specifically crafted web content that triggers memory corruption conditions within WebKit's JavaScript engine, particularly in how it handles memory allocation and deallocation during web page rendering. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability by hosting malicious web content that, when loaded in a targeted browser, exploits the underlying memory management issues to either execute arbitrary code on the victim's device or cause a denial of service through system crashes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations, both of which are common patterns in memory corruption vulnerabilities. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant risk to users who browse the internet regularly, as it requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website. The attack surface is broad given that WebKit is used across multiple Apple platforms, making it an attractive target for threat actors seeking to compromise iOS devices, Mac computers running Safari, and Apple TV systems. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution flaw places it within the ATT&CK framework under T1059.007 for Scripting and T1566 for Phishing, as attackers would typically deliver malicious content through compromised websites or social engineering campaigns.
The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the inherent complexity of modern web browsers and their rendering engines, where memory management errors can have severe consequences. WebKit's architecture processes multiple layers of web content including HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and multimedia elements, creating numerous potential entry points for attackers. The memory corruption occurs during the JavaScript execution phase, where improper handling of object references and memory allocation can lead to controlled memory corruption that attackers can manipulate to execute malicious code. Organizations and individuals must understand that this vulnerability represents a fundamental security flaw in Apple's browser implementation that could be leveraged for advanced persistent threats. The remediation strategy involves immediate patching of affected systems, with Apple releasing updates to address the specific memory corruption issues in WebKit's JavaScript engine. System administrators should prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected Apple platforms to mitigate the risk of exploitation, as the vulnerability could enable attackers to gain full system control and potentially access sensitive user data. The incident underscores the importance of continuous security monitoring and prompt patch management for browser-based systems, particularly given the widespread use of Apple's ecosystem across enterprise and consumer environments.