CVE-2018-4199 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.4 is affected. Safari before 11.1.1 is affected. iCloud before 7.5 on Windows is affected. iTunes before 12.7.5 on Windows is affected. tvOS before 11.4 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (buffer overflow and application crash) via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4199 represents a critical buffer overflow flaw within the WebKit rendering engine component that powers Apple's Safari browser and integrated web viewing capabilities across multiple platforms. This security weakness affects a broad range of Apple products including iOS versions prior to 11.4, Safari browsers before 11.1.1, iCloud applications on Windows systems before version 7.5, iTunes software on Windows before version 12.7.5, and tvOS before 11.4. The vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within the WebKit engine's memory management systems, creating exploitable conditions that malicious actors can leverage to execute arbitrary code or trigger application crashes. The buffer overflow occurs when the WebKit component processes specially crafted web content that exceeds allocated memory boundaries, potentially allowing attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious instructions. This flaw aligns with CWE-121, which describes heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and represents a classic example of memory corruption vulnerabilities that have historically enabled privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution attacks. The attack vector requires remote exploitation through compromised websites, making it particularly dangerous as users can be vulnerable simply by visiting malicious web pages without any additional interaction or authentication requirements.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual user devices to encompass enterprise environments where Apple products are extensively deployed. When exploited, the buffer overflow can result in complete system compromise, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, execute malicious payloads, or maintain persistent access to affected systems. The vulnerability's presence in the WebKit component means that all web-based applications and services that rely on Apple's native browser functionality become potential attack surfaces. Organizations using Apple devices for business operations face significant risk exposure, particularly in environments where employees regularly access untrusted web content. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework would fall within the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on compromised systems. Additionally, the denial of service aspect of the vulnerability creates opportunities for attackers to disrupt business operations through application crashes and system instability, potentially causing productivity losses and requiring costly recovery operations.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-4199 should prioritize immediate patch deployment across all affected Apple platforms, with particular emphasis on iOS devices and Safari browsers where the vulnerability is most pronounced. Apple released security updates for iOS 11.4, Safari 11.1.1, iCloud 7.5, iTunes 12.7.5, and tvOS 11.4 that address the underlying buffer overflow conditions in the WebKit engine. Network administrators should implement web filtering solutions and browser security controls to prevent access to known malicious domains while also monitoring for exploitation attempts. The implementation of sandboxing mechanisms and strict memory access controls can provide additional defense layers against exploitation attempts. Organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments to identify all potentially affected systems and ensure proper patch management procedures are in place. Security teams should monitor threat intelligence feeds for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and implement network intrusion detection systems to identify potential exploitation attempts. The remediation process requires coordinated updates across multiple software components, including operating system updates, browser patches, and application updates, making proper change management and testing procedures essential for successful mitigation. Regular security audits should verify that all affected platforms have been properly updated and that no legacy systems remain vulnerable to this specific buffer overflow condition.