CVE-2018-4267 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple memory corruption issues were addressed with improved memory handling. This issue affected versions prior to iOS 11.4.1, tvOS 11.4.1, Safari 11.1.2, iTunes 12.8 for Windows, iCloud for Windows 7.6.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/01/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4267 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that impacted multiple Apple operating systems and applications. This issue stemmed from inadequate memory management practices that allowed attackers to potentially execute arbitrary code or cause system instability through carefully crafted inputs. The vulnerability affected versions of iOS prior to 11.4.1, tvOS prior to 11.4.1, Safari 11.1.2, iTunes 12.8 for Windows, and iCloud for Windows 7.6, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The memory corruption issues were particularly concerning as they could be exploited to bypass security mechanisms and potentially gain unauthorized access to user data or system resources.
The technical root cause of CVE-2018-4267 aligns with common memory safety vulnerabilities classified under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These memory handling flaws typically arise when applications fail to properly validate buffer boundaries or when memory allocation routines do not adequately protect against overflow conditions. The vulnerability likely manifested through improper memory deallocation or access patterns that allowed attackers to manipulate heap memory structures or overwrite critical system data. Such issues often provide attackers with opportunities to inject malicious code or manipulate program execution flow through techniques that fall under the ATT&CK framework's T1059.007 sub-technique for command and scripting interpreter.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extended across multiple attack vectors and user scenarios, as the affected applications and operating systems were widely deployed across consumer and enterprise environments. Users of affected versions faced potential risks including unauthorized data access, system compromise, and possible escalation of privileges. The vulnerability's presence in Safari, iTunes, and iCloud applications meant that attackers could potentially exploit it through web-based attacks, file transfers, or cloud synchronization processes. The widespread nature of the affected software versions suggested that many users were exposed to risk, particularly those who had not yet updated to the patched releases. Organizations relying on these applications for business operations faced increased risk of data breaches and system compromise.
Apple's response to CVE-2018-4267 involved releasing security updates for all affected platforms, including iOS 11.4.1, tvOS 11.4.1, Safari 11.1.2, and updated versions of iTunes and iCloud for Windows. The mitigation strategy focused on improving memory handling practices and implementing additional bounds checking mechanisms within the affected applications. System administrators and users were advised to immediately install the available updates to protect against exploitation. The fix likely included enhanced memory allocation routines, improved input validation, and additional safeguards against buffer overflow conditions. Organizations should have prioritized deployment of these patches as part of their vulnerability management processes, particularly given the potential for remote code execution and the broad attack surface presented by the affected applications. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the importance of maintaining up-to-date security patches and implementing comprehensive memory safety practices in software development.