CVE-2016-4758 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
WebKit in Apple iOS before 10, iTunes before 12.5.1 on Windows, and Safari before 10 does not properly restrict access to the location variable, which allows remote attackers to obtain sensitive information via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/20/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-4758 represents a significant security flaw in Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple platforms including iOS versions prior to 10, iTunes versions before 12.5.1 on Windows, and Safari versions before 10. This issue stems from improper access controls within the WebKit implementation that allows malicious web pages to bypass intended security restrictions governing access to location information. The flaw specifically targets the location variable within web browsers, which typically contains geolocation data including latitude, longitude, and other sensitive location-based information that users expect to be protected from unauthorized access.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-200, which addresses improper exposure of sensitive information, and falls under the broader category of information disclosure flaws. WebKit's failure to properly enforce access restrictions on the location variable creates a pathway for remote attackers to craft malicious websites that can extract sensitive geolocation data from users' devices. This occurs through the manipulation of JavaScript APIs and web browser internals that should normally be protected from cross-origin access attempts. The vulnerability exploits the trust model that browsers establish between different web contexts and the underlying operating system's location services, allowing unauthorized code execution that can access location data without proper user consent or explicit permission.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it enables sophisticated tracking and surveillance capabilities for threat actors. Attackers can leverage this flaw to gather detailed location intelligence about users, potentially mapping their movements, identifying their residences, or tracking their daily routines. This represents a significant privacy violation that undermines the fundamental security assumptions users make when browsing the web, particularly in mobile environments where location data is often collected and shared automatically. The vulnerability affects users across multiple Apple platforms, making it particularly dangerous as it requires targeted exploitation for each affected system rather than a single universal attack vector.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-4758 primarily involve updating to patched versions of the affected software, specifically iOS 10, iTunes 12.5.1, and Safari 10, which implement proper access controls for the location variable. Organizations should also consider implementing network-level protections such as web content filtering solutions and browser hardening measures that restrict access to potentially malicious websites. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software and highlights the need for comprehensive security testing of web browser components, particularly those handling sensitive user data. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to techniques involving information gathering and privilege escalation, as attackers can use the location data to build detailed profiles of targets and potentially escalate their access to other system resources. Users should also be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping their browsers and operating systems updated to protect against such information disclosure attacks.