CVE-2018-4345 in iCloud
Summary
by MITRE
A cross-site scripting issue existed in Safari. This issue was addressed with improved URL validation. This issue affected versions prior to iOS 12, tvOS 12, Safari 12, iTunes 12.9 for Windows, iCloud for Windows 7.7.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2023
The cross-site scripting vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4345 represents a significant security flaw in Apple's Safari browser and related platforms that allowed malicious actors to inject arbitrary JavaScript code into web pages viewed by users. This vulnerability specifically affected users of older versions of iOS, tvOS, Safari, and related software components, creating a persistent risk for web application security. The flaw stemmed from inadequate validation of URLs within the browser's rendering engine, which permitted specially crafted malicious URLs to bypass security restrictions and execute unauthorized code in the context of the user's session.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability falls under the CWE-79 category of Cross-Site Scripting, where the browser failed to properly sanitize or validate user-supplied input before rendering it in web content. The issue manifested when Safari encountered URLs containing malicious script payloads that were not adequately filtered during the parsing and rendering process. Attackers could exploit this weakness by crafting malicious links or web content that would execute JavaScript code in the victim's browser, potentially leading to session hijacking, data theft, or further exploitation of the user's system. The vulnerability was particularly dangerous because it affected the core browser functionality and could be exploited through various attack vectors including phishing emails, malicious websites, or compromised web applications that users might visit.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4345 was substantial across Apple's ecosystem, affecting users of iOS 11 and earlier versions, tvOS 11 and earlier, Safari 11 and earlier, and corresponding Windows applications. This vulnerability created a window of opportunity for attackers to compromise user sessions and potentially gain unauthorized access to sensitive information stored in iCloud, email accounts, or other web applications that users accessed through the affected browsers. The widespread adoption of these affected versions meant that a large user base was potentially exposed to this vulnerability, particularly in enterprise environments where software updates might be delayed or managed through centralized deployment systems. Security researchers noted that the vulnerability could be exploited in conjunction with other attack techniques, making it a particularly concerning flaw in the context of targeted attacks against high-value targets.
Apple addressed this vulnerability through improved URL validation mechanisms implemented in the Safari browser and related software components. The patch involved strengthening the input sanitization processes to properly validate and filter URL parameters before rendering them in web pages, thereby preventing malicious script execution. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of the relevant security updates, including iOS 12, tvOS 12, Safari 12, iTunes 12.9 for Windows, and iCloud for Windows 7.7, to remediate this vulnerability. Additionally, security teams should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts and consider implementing additional security layers such as content security policies and web application firewalls to provide defense-in-depth protection. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of regular software updates and proper input validation in preventing cross-site scripting attacks, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1212 for exploitation of browser vulnerabilities and emphasizing the need for comprehensive browser security management.