CVE-2018-4163 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. watchOS before 4.3 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-2018-4163 resides within Apple's WebKit component, which serves as the foundational web rendering engine for Safari browsers across various Apple operating systems. This critical security flaw affects multiple Apple platforms including iOS versions prior to 11.3, Safari versions before 11.1, iCloud applications on Windows before version 7.4, iTunes on Windows before version 12.7.4, tvOS before 11.3, and watchOS before 4.3. The vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within WebKit's JavaScript engine, creating a condition where malicious web content can trigger memory corruption errors that ultimately lead to arbitrary code execution or application crashes.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under CWE-119, which represents "Improper Access to Memory Location" and specifically relates to memory corruption issues that occur when applications fail to properly validate memory access boundaries. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious websites that leverage JavaScript or other web technologies to manipulate memory structures within the WebKit rendering engine. When users visit these compromised sites, the malicious code can overwrite critical memory locations, leading to unpredictable behavior including system crashes or more dangerously, the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4163 extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios to potentially enable full system compromise. According to ATT&CK framework category T1059.007, this vulnerability allows for remote code execution through script-based attacks, making it particularly dangerous for users who browse the internet regularly. The vulnerability affects the core browser functionality across multiple Apple platforms, meaning that successful exploitation could provide attackers with persistent access to user devices. Additionally, since the flaw exists in WebKit, which is used across various Apple applications including Safari, Mail, and other components that rely on web rendering capabilities, the attack surface is significantly broadened.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as Apple released security updates addressing this specific memory corruption issue. Organizations should implement network-based protections such as web application firewalls and content filtering systems to block access to known malicious domains. Users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and should maintain updated software versions across all Apple platforms. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular security maintenance and the critical nature of keeping web browsers and operating systems current with security patches. Security teams should also consider implementing monitoring solutions to detect unusual memory access patterns or application crashes that might indicate exploitation attempts.