CVE-2018-4119 in iCloud
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.3 is affected. Safari before 11.1 is affected. iCloud before 7.4 on Windows is affected. iTunes before 12.7.4 on Windows is affected. tvOS before 11.3 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 • 02/08/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4119 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affects multiple operating systems and applications. This vulnerability resides in the core web browsing component that powers Safari, iOS, tvOS, and various other Apple products, making it particularly dangerous due to its widespread impact across the Apple ecosystem. The flaw specifically affects iOS versions prior to 11.3, Safari versions prior to 11.1, iCloud versions prior to 7.4 on Windows, iTunes versions prior to 12.7.4 on Windows, and tvOS versions prior to 11.3, demonstrating the comprehensive nature of the affected software landscape.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within WebKit's JavaScript engine, where attackers can craft malicious web pages that trigger buffer overflows or memory corruption conditions. When users visit these specially crafted websites, the memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution or cause applications to crash, effectively enabling remote code execution attacks. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions, both of which are common in memory corruption vulnerabilities. The attack vector requires only a user to visit a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous as it doesn't require any user interaction beyond normal browsing behavior.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4119 extends far beyond simple application crashes, as the ability to execute arbitrary code remotely provides attackers with complete system compromise potential. This vulnerability could enable attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, monitor user activities, or even take control of affected devices. The fact that it affects both mobile and desktop operating systems creates a significant attack surface, particularly given that iOS devices and macOS systems often contain sensitive personal and corporate data. The vulnerability's presence in iCloud and iTunes applications also raises concerns about data synchronization and backup integrity, as these applications handle potentially sensitive user information. From an attacker perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, as successful exploitation could lead to elevated system privileges.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-4119 primarily focus on immediate software updates and patches provided by Apple to address the underlying memory corruption issues in WebKit. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected Apple products to their latest versions, particularly iOS 11.3, Safari 11.1, iCloud 7.4, iTunes 12.7.4, and tvOS 11.3. Additionally, network administrators should implement web filtering solutions and browser security controls to prevent access to known malicious domains until updates are deployed. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and consider implementing network segmentation to limit potential lateral movement if exploitation occurs. The vulnerability's nature also suggests that users should exercise caution when visiting unfamiliar websites and should keep their browsers updated regularly to protect against similar future vulnerabilities.