CVE-2018-4359 in iCloud
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple memory corruption issues were addressed with improved memory handling. This issue affected versions prior to iOS 12, tvOS 12, watchOS 5, 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 vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4359 represents a critical class of memory corruption issues that plagued several Apple operating systems and applications prior to their respective version updates. This weakness stems from inadequate memory handling mechanisms that could lead to unpredictable system behavior and potential exploitation by malicious actors. The affected platforms include iOS versions before 12, tvOS versions before 12, watchOS versions before 5, Safari version 12, iTunes 12.9 for Windows, and iCloud for Windows 7.7, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The vulnerability manifests through improper memory management practices that fail to adequately validate or sanitize memory operations, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate system memory through crafted inputs or conditions.
Memory corruption vulnerabilities of this nature typically fall under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These issues often enable attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause system crashes through carefully crafted inputs that exploit memory handling flaws. The specific nature of CVE-2018-4359 suggests that the memory corruption occurs during processing of certain data structures or network communications, potentially through web content rendering, file processing, or network protocol handling. The vulnerability's presence in Safari indicates a particular risk for web-based exploitation, where attackers could craft malicious web pages to trigger the memory corruption during normal browsing operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple system instability, as it could potentially allow for privilege escalation or persistent system compromise. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability might gain unauthorized access to user data, execute malicious code with elevated privileges, or establish persistent backdoors on affected systems. The widespread nature of the affected software versions means that a significant portion of Apple's user base was potentially exposed to these risks, particularly users who had not yet updated their systems to the patched versions. The vulnerability's presence in both mobile and desktop operating systems indicates that attackers could potentially exploit it across multiple device types, increasing the attack surface and potential impact.
Security mitigations for CVE-2018-4359 primarily involve updating to the patched versions of affected software, which Apple released as part of their regular security updates. System administrators should prioritize patching all affected platforms, including iOS devices, tvOS set-top boxes, watchOS devices, and Windows applications. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, particularly around web browsing and file transfer activities. The vulnerability's classification under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter suggests that exploitation might involve automated script execution or command injection attacks. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management processes to ensure all affected systems receive updates promptly, and should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any remaining unpatched systems within their environments. Additionally, users should be educated about the importance of keeping their software updated and should avoid visiting untrusted websites or opening suspicious email attachments that could trigger exploitation of this memory corruption vulnerability.