CVE-2018-4233 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. watchOS before 4.3.1 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 • 07/03/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4233 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within Apple's WebKit rendering engine that affects multiple operating systems and applications. This security issue resides in the core web browsing component responsible for processing and displaying web content across Apple's ecosystem. The vulnerability specifically impacts iOS versions prior to 11.4, Safari versions before 11.1.1, iCloud versions before 7.5 on Windows, iTunes versions before 12.7.5 on Windows, tvOS versions before 11.4, and watchOS versions before 4.3.1. The flaw exists within the WebKit component which serves as the foundation for web rendering in Apple's browsers and applications, making it a prime target for exploitation due to its widespread use and critical role in user interactions with web content.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from improper memory handling within the WebKit engine that can be triggered through maliciously crafted web pages. Attackers can exploit this weakness by hosting specially designed websites that manipulate memory structures in ways that lead to arbitrary code execution or system crashes. The memory corruption occurs during the processing of web content, particularly when handling specific web elements or JavaScript code that causes the browser to allocate or access memory in unintended ways. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 vulnerability class, which represents out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to memory corruption and potentially arbitrary code execution. The exploitability of this flaw means that users can be compromised simply by visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing attacks or drive-by downloads.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4233 extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect large-scale enterprise and consumer environments. Mobile devices running affected versions of iOS, watchOS, and tvOS become vulnerable to remote exploitation, allowing attackers to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data, install malicious applications, or disrupt normal device operations. The Windows-based applications like iCloud and iTunes that are affected represent additional attack vectors since they are commonly used by users who may not be security-savvy. Organizations with Apple device deployments face significant risk as this vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction, potentially leading to data breaches, unauthorized access to corporate networks, or loss of sensitive information. The impact is particularly severe in enterprise environments where Apple devices are prevalent and often used to access corporate resources.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-4233 require immediate action across all affected Apple platforms to prevent exploitation. Users and organizations must prioritize updating to the latest versions of their Apple software, including iOS 11.4, Safari 11.1.1, iCloud 7.5, iTunes 12.7.5, tvOS 11.4, and watchOS 4.3.1. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework as a remote code execution technique means that traditional network security measures may not be sufficient to prevent exploitation. Security teams should implement network monitoring to detect suspicious web traffic patterns and consider deploying web filtering solutions that can block access to known malicious domains. Additionally, user education about avoiding untrusted websites and being cautious when clicking on links in emails or messages becomes crucial. The remediation process should include comprehensive vulnerability scanning to identify all affected devices within the organization and ensure that automatic update mechanisms are enabled to maintain ongoing protection against similar future vulnerabilities.