CVE-2018-4246 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 via a crafted web site that leverages type confusion.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4246 represents a critical type confusion 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, iOS web views, and various other Apple products that utilize WebKit for web content rendering. The flaw manifests as a type confusion vulnerability that occurs when the WebKit engine processes malformed or crafted web content, leading to unpredictable behavior that can be exploited by remote attackers.
Type confusion vulnerabilities occur when a program uses a variable or object of one data type in a context expecting a different data type, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory layouts and execute arbitrary code. In this case, the vulnerability specifically affects how WebKit handles object types during JavaScript execution and memory management operations. The flaw allows remote attackers to craft malicious websites that, when loaded in affected browsers or applications, can cause the WebKit engine to misinterpret object types and subsequently execute attacker-controlled code with the privileges of the affected application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant across Apple's ecosystem, as it affects iOS versions prior to 11.4, Safari versions before 11.1.1, iCloud for Windows before version 7.5, iTunes for Windows before version 12.7.5, tvOS before 11.4, and watchOS before 4.3.1. This broad scope means that users across multiple device categories and platforms are at risk, making it particularly dangerous from a security perspective. Attackers could exploit this vulnerability through drive-by downloads from compromised websites, malicious email attachments, or by leveraging the vulnerability in web-based applications that use WebKit for rendering content.
The vulnerability aligns with CWE-468, which specifically addresses type confusion issues in software development, and represents a classic example of how memory management flaws in web engines can lead to remote code execution. From an adversary perspective, this vulnerability maps to ATT&CK technique T1203, which involves exploiting software vulnerabilities to gain remote access and execute code. The exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond visiting a malicious website, making it particularly dangerous in phishing campaigns and social engineering attacks. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of proper input validation and type safety in web rendering engines, as it represents a fundamental flaw in how the WebKit engine manages object lifecycles and memory access patterns.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2018-4246 primarily involve updating affected systems to the latest supported versions that contain patches for the WebKit vulnerability. Apple released security updates for all affected operating systems and applications, including iOS 11.4, Safari 11.1.1, iCloud 7.5, iTunes 12.7.5, tvOS 11.4, and watchOS 4.3.1. Organizations should implement immediate patch management procedures to ensure all affected systems are updated, as the vulnerability provides attackers with a straightforward path to remote code execution. Additional protective measures include implementing web content filtering, disabling JavaScript in untrusted environments where possible, and monitoring for suspicious network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also consider deploying network-based intrusion detection systems that can identify and block traffic patterns associated with known exploitation techniques for this vulnerability.