CVE-2018-4204 in iOS
Summary
by MITRE
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.4 is affected. iOS before 11.3.1 is affected. Safari before 11.1 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 (memory corruption 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-2018-4204 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 browsers and embedded web views across Apple's ecosystem. The flaw manifests when WebKit processes maliciously crafted web content, creating conditions that can lead to arbitrary code execution or system instability. The affected versions span across iOS 11.3 and earlier, Safari 11.0 and earlier, iCloud 7.4 and earlier on Windows, iTunes 12.7.4 and earlier on Windows, and tvOS 11.3 and earlier, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's platform portfolio.
The technical nature of this vulnerability falls under memory corruption categories, specifically targeting the WebKit component's handling of web content processing. Attackers can exploit this weakness by hosting malicious web pages that trigger specific code paths within the WebKit engine, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged for remote code execution. The vulnerability's exploitation requires no user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous as it can be delivered through various attack vectors including phishing emails, compromised websites, or malicious advertisements. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, where adversaries leverage web-based attack surfaces to deliver malicious payloads.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4204 extends beyond simple application crashes to potentially enable full system compromise. When memory corruption occurs in the WebKit engine, it can result in unpredictable behavior that attackers may manipulate to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This could lead to complete system compromise, data theft, or persistent backdoor access. The vulnerability affects both mobile and desktop environments, creating a significant attack surface that requires immediate attention from security teams. Organizations using Apple products must consider this vulnerability as a high-priority threat that could be exploited in targeted attacks against their users. The impact is particularly concerning given that many users may not immediately update their systems, creating extended windows of exposure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-4204 focus primarily on applying official security updates from Apple, which address the underlying memory corruption issues in WebKit. System administrators should prioritize updating all affected Apple devices to the latest versions including iOS 11.4, Safari 11.1, iCloud 7.5, iTunes 12.7.5, and tvOS 11.4. Additionally, network security controls such as web filtering and content inspection can provide defense-in-depth protection by blocking access to known malicious domains. Organizations should implement monitoring for suspicious web traffic patterns and conduct regular vulnerability assessments to identify potentially affected systems. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue places it within CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. Security teams should also consider implementing browser hardening measures including disabling unnecessary web features and enabling sandboxing mechanisms to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts.