CVE-2016-4735 in tvOS
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit in Apple iOS before 10, Safari before 10, and tvOS before 10 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-2016-4611, CVE-2016-4730, CVE-2016-4733, and CVE-2016-4734.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/21/2022
This vulnerability resides within the WebKit rendering engine that powers Apple's Safari browser and iOS web applications. The flaw represents a memory corruption issue that can be exploited through maliciously crafted web content, enabling remote code execution or denial of service conditions. The vulnerability affects multiple Apple platforms including iOS versions prior to 10.0, Safari versions before 10.0, and tvOS versions before 10.0, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. Unlike related vulnerabilities such as CVE-2016-4611, CVE-2016-4730, CVE-2016-4733, and CVE-2016-4734, this specific flaw demonstrates unique characteristics in how memory corruption occurs within the WebKit engine's handling of web content.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management within WebKit's JavaScript engine and rendering components. Attackers can craft specific web pages containing malicious JavaScript or HTML elements that trigger buffer overflows or use-after-free conditions when the browser processes these elements. The memory corruption occurs during the parsing and execution of web content, particularly when handling complex DOM manipulations or JavaScript object interactions. This type of vulnerability typically arises from insufficient bounds checking or improper memory deallocation procedures within the browser's core rendering engine. The flaw operates at the intersection of multiple attack vectors including JavaScript execution, DOM manipulation, and memory management, making it particularly dangerous in the context of modern web browsing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass potential system compromise and service disruption. Successful exploitation can allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the browser process, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The memory corruption nature also means that attackers can cause denial of service conditions by crashing the browser or rendering system processes unstable. Given that these affected versions of iOS, Safari, and tvOS were widely deployed across consumer and enterprise environments, the potential for mass exploitation was significant. The vulnerability's ability to affect multiple platforms simultaneously indicates a fundamental flaw in Apple's WebKit implementation that required immediate patching across all affected operating systems. Organizations using these platforms faced elevated risk of targeted attacks, particularly in environments where users might encounter malicious websites through email attachments, social engineering, or compromised web services.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability required immediate patch deployment across all affected Apple platforms, with security teams prioritizing updates to iOS 10, Safari 10, and tvOS 10 releases. Organizations should implement network-based protections including web filtering solutions that can block known malicious domains and content patterns associated with exploitation attempts. Browser hardening measures such as disabling unnecessary JavaScript features, implementing strict content security policies, and using sandboxing mechanisms provided additional defense layers. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are common in memory corruption vulnerabilities. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving exploitation of remote services and privilege escalation, with potential TTPs including initial access through malicious websites and execution through browser-based exploits. Regular security monitoring and incident response procedures should include detection of exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and browser process monitoring to identify potential compromise attempts.