CVE-2016-7611 in iCloud
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 10.2 is affected. Safari before 10.0.2 is affected. iCloud before 6.1 is affected. iTunes before 12.5.4 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2016-7611 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple Apple products including iOS versions prior to 10.2, Safari versions before 10.0.2, iCloud versions before 6.1, and iTunes versions before 12.5.4. This vulnerability resides within the WebKit component which serves as the core web browsing engine powering Safari and other Apple applications that render web content. The flaw manifests as a remote code execution vulnerability that can be exploited by attackers who craft malicious websites designed to trigger memory corruption within the WebKit engine. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-119, which addresses memory safety issues and improper access to memory, specifically highlighting weaknesses in memory management and buffer handling within the web rendering stack. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on affected systems or cause denial of service conditions through application crashes, making it particularly dangerous in the context of web-based attacks.
The technical exploitation of CVE-2016-7611 occurs when a user visits a maliciously crafted website that triggers a specific memory corruption pattern within the WebKit engine's handling of web content. This typically involves manipulating how the engine processes certain web elements, potentially through malformed HTML, JavaScript, or multimedia content that causes memory corruption in the browser's memory space. The vulnerability enables attackers to gain unauthorized control over affected systems by executing malicious code with the privileges of the affected application, which in the case of web browsers typically means the privileges of the user running the browser. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability can lead to unpredictable behavior including crashes, data corruption, or potentially more severe outcomes where the attacker can leverage the corrupted memory to inject and execute their own code within the browser process. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059 for execution through command and scripting interpreter, and T1203 for exploitation for privilege escalation.
The operational impact of CVE-2016-7611 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to represent a significant threat vector for attackers seeking to compromise Apple device users. The vulnerability's presence across multiple Apple applications including Safari, iCloud, and iTunes means that a single malicious website could potentially compromise any of these applications, creating a broad attack surface. Users who regularly browse the web or use Apple's ecosystem applications become prime targets for exploitation, particularly in scenarios where they might visit untrusted websites or download content from unknown sources. The vulnerability's remote nature means that attackers do not require physical access to devices or complex local attack vectors, making it particularly dangerous in the context of web-based attacks and social engineering campaigns. Organizations and individuals using affected Apple products face potential risks including data theft, system compromise, and unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in iCloud or other Apple services. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to persistent threats where attackers maintain access to compromised systems, potentially enabling long-term surveillance or data exfiltration activities. The widespread nature of affected Apple applications means that the impact extends beyond individual users to enterprise environments where Apple devices are commonly used for business operations and data handling, potentially exposing corporate networks to significant security risks.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2016-7611 primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates provided by Apple. Users should immediately update their iOS devices to version 10.2 or later, Safari to version 10.0.2 or later, iCloud to version 6.1 or later, and iTunes to version 12.5.4 or later to eliminate the vulnerability. Security administrators should implement proactive monitoring for any attempts to access known malicious websites and deploy network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify suspicious traffic patterns associated with exploitation attempts. Browser security configurations should be enhanced through the implementation of content security policies and sandboxing measures that limit the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Organizations should consider implementing web filtering solutions that can block access to known malicious domains and employ regular security assessments to identify and remediate any remaining vulnerabilities in their Apple device fleets. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding suspicious websites and downloading content only from trusted sources. The vulnerability's remediation through Apple's security updates demonstrates the importance of maintaining current software versions and highlights the risks associated with delaying security patches in enterprise environments where Apple devices are commonly deployed.