CVE-2018-4392 in Safari
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple memory corruption issues were addressed with improved memory handling. This issue affected versions prior to iOS 12.1, tvOS 12.1, watchOS 5.1, Safari 12.0.1, iTunes 12.9.1, iCloud for Windows 7.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/08/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2018-4392 represents a critical memory corruption issue that impacted multiple Apple operating systems and applications. This flaw manifested in improper memory handling mechanisms that could lead to arbitrary code execution and system compromise. The vulnerability affected versions prior to iOS 12.1, tvOS 12.1, watchOS 5.1, Safari 12.0.1, iTunes 12.9.1, and iCloud for Windows 7.8, indicating a widespread impact across Apple's ecosystem. The issue falls under the category of memory safety vulnerabilities, which are particularly dangerous due to their potential for exploitation in privilege escalation scenarios.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices within Apple's software frameworks. Memory corruption issues typically occur when applications fail to properly validate memory operations, leading to buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or heap corruption scenarios. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations. These memory safety flaws can be exploited by attackers to manipulate program execution flow, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in Safari and iTunes suggests that web-based attack vectors were particularly susceptible, as these applications handle untrusted input from web content.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4392 extends beyond individual device compromise to potentially affect enterprise environments where Apple devices are prevalent. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through malicious web content or crafted files delivered via iTunes sync operations. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this type of vulnerability under T1059, which involves command and scripting interpreter techniques, as exploitation could enable attackers to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. The widespread nature of the affected software versions means that organizations with legacy Apple devices were particularly vulnerable, creating significant risk for users who had not yet updated to the patched versions. Network-based attacks could exploit this vulnerability through web browsers, while physical access attacks might utilize iTunes for Windows to deliver malicious payloads.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve immediate deployment of Apple's security patches and updates. Organizations should prioritize updating all affected systems to versions including iOS 12.1, tvOS 12.1, watchOS 5.1, Safari 12.0.1, iTunes 12.9.1, and iCloud for Windows 7.8. Additional defensive measures include implementing network monitoring to detect suspicious traffic patterns and restricting iTunes access to trusted networks. Security teams should also consider deploying web application firewalls and content filtering solutions to prevent users from accessing malicious websites that could exploit this vulnerability. Regular vulnerability assessments and penetration testing should be conducted to identify any remaining exposure in legacy systems, while user education programs can help prevent social engineering attacks that might leverage this vulnerability. The remediation process should include thorough verification of update deployment across all affected devices to ensure complete protection against exploitation attempts.