CVE-2018-4232 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 overwrite cookies via a crafted web site.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4232 represents a critical security flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affected multiple Apple products and operating systems. This issue resides in the web browser component that powers Safari and other Apple applications, creating a pathway for remote attackers to manipulate cookie storage mechanisms through malicious web content. The vulnerability specifically targets the cookie handling functionality within WebKit, which is fundamental to web session management and user authentication processes across the internet.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to exploit a flaw in how WebKit processes cookie data when rendering malicious websites. When users visit a crafted webpage, the vulnerability enables remote code execution that can overwrite existing cookies with malicious data, potentially leading to session hijacking, authentication bypasses, or unauthorized access to user accounts. This type of attack falls under the category of cookie manipulation attacks and aligns with CWE-1237, which addresses issues related to cookie management and session handling in web applications. The flaw demonstrates a weakness in input validation and data sanitization within the WebKit component, where user-supplied cookie data is not properly validated before being stored or processed.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4232 extends across multiple Apple platforms and applications, creating widespread exposure for users of affected systems. iOS versions prior to 11.4, Safari browsers before 11.1.1, iCloud applications on Windows before version 7.5, iTunes on Windows before 12.7.5, and tvOS before 11.4 all present vulnerable attack surfaces. This vulnerability enables attackers to leverage the WebKit component to execute remote code through web-based delivery mechanisms, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns or malicious website attacks. The attack vector operates entirely through web content without requiring any additional user interaction beyond visiting the malicious site, which aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566.001 for initial access through spearphishing attachments or links. The exploitation capability of this vulnerability directly impacts user privacy and security, potentially allowing attackers to maintain persistent access to user accounts and sensitive information.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-4232 primarily involve immediate software updates and patches from Apple to address the WebKit vulnerability. Users should promptly upgrade to affected software versions including iOS 11.4, Safari 11.1.1, iCloud 7.5, iTunes 12.7.5, and tvOS 11.4 to remediate the vulnerability. Network administrators should implement web filtering solutions and browser security controls to prevent access to known malicious domains. Additional defensive measures include enabling secure cookie attributes such as HttpOnly and Secure flags, implementing proper input validation for all cookie data, and conducting regular security assessments of web applications. Organizations should also consider deploying web application firewalls and monitoring for suspicious cookie manipulation activities. The vulnerability underscores the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches across all platforms and demonstrates the critical nature of browser security components in protecting against remote exploitation. Security teams should also implement user education programs to raise awareness about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and the importance of keeping software updated to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.