CVE-2019-8535 in iCloud
Summary
by MITRE
A memory corruption issue was addressed with improved state management. This issue is fixed in iOS 12.2, tvOS 12.2, Safari 12.1, iTunes 12.9.4 for Windows, iCloud for Windows 7.11. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/21/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8535 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that affected multiple Apple operating systems and applications. This issue stems from inadequate state management within Apple's web rendering and processing components, specifically impacting the Safari browser and related ecosystem applications. The vulnerability resides in how the affected software handles memory allocation and deallocation during web content processing, creating potential entry points for malicious actors to exploit system resources. The flaw manifests when the software encounters specially crafted web content that triggers improper memory handling, potentially leading to buffer overflows or other memory corruption conditions.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-122, which addresses heap-based buffer overflow scenarios. These classifications indicate that the memory corruption occurs through improper handling of allocated memory regions during web content rendering processes. Attackers can leverage this weakness by crafting malicious web pages that, when loaded in affected browsers, trigger the corrupted memory states. The exploitation mechanism follows patterns consistent with the attack techniques documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1203 category, which covers "Exploitation for Client Execution" through browser-based attacks.
The operational impact of CVE-2019-8535 extends across multiple platforms including iOS 12.1 and earlier versions, tvOS 12.1 and earlier, Safari 12.0 and earlier, and specific Windows applications including iTunes 12.9.3 and earlier, and iCloud for Windows 7.10 and earlier. Organizations running these affected versions face significant risk of arbitrary code execution, which could enable complete system compromise. The vulnerability's exploitation potential makes it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may encounter malicious web content through phishing campaigns or compromised websites. Security professionals must consider that successful exploitation could allow attackers to bypass standard security controls, execute malicious payloads, and potentially establish persistent access to affected systems.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-8535 require immediate deployment of vendor-provided security updates, specifically iOS 12.2, tvOS 12.2, Safari 12.1, iTunes 12.9.4 for Windows, and iCloud for Windows 7.11. Organizations should prioritize patch management processes to ensure all affected systems receive these updates promptly. Additional protective measures include implementing web filtering solutions, disabling automatic web content rendering for untrusted sources, and conducting security awareness training for users to recognize potential phishing attempts. Network monitoring should focus on detecting anomalous web traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to detect and block malicious web content delivery. The vulnerability's resolution through improved state management demonstrates Apple's approach to addressing memory safety issues, aligning with industry best practices for preventing buffer overflow conditions and maintaining robust application security boundaries.