CVE-2019-8563 in iCloud
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple memory corruption issues were addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 12.2, tvOS 12.2, watchOS 5.2, 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 • 08/08/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8563 represents a critical memory corruption issue affecting multiple Apple operating systems and applications. This flaw resides in the memory handling mechanisms of iOS 12.1, tvOS 12.1, watchOS 5.1, Safari 12.0, and iTunes 12.9.3 for Windows, creating a significant attack surface for malicious actors. The vulnerability stems from inadequate memory management practices that fail to properly validate or sanitize memory operations when processing web content, potentially allowing attackers to exploit these weaknesses through crafted malicious web pages or content.
The technical nature of 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 corruption flaws typically occur when applications fail to properly validate array indices or buffer boundaries during memory allocation and deallocation processes. The vulnerability specifically manifests when the affected applications process maliciously crafted web content, where attackers can manipulate memory pointers or buffer sizes to trigger unintended memory behavior. This type of flaw enables attackers to execute arbitrary code on the target system, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a severe risk to users of affected Apple products, particularly given the widespread use of Safari and iOS devices in enterprise and personal environments. The attack vector through web content processing means that users could be compromised simply by visiting malicious websites or viewing crafted emails with embedded web content. The exploitability of this vulnerability is enhanced by the fact that it affects multiple platforms, including mobile devices, desktop operating systems, and web browsers, creating a broad attack surface that security teams must address. Organizations using Apple products for business operations face potential data breaches, unauthorized access to sensitive information, and complete system compromise if this vulnerability is exploited.
The mitigation strategy for CVE-2019-8563 requires immediate deployment of the security updates released by Apple, including iOS 12.2, tvOS 12.2, watchOS 5.2, Safari 12.1, iTunes 12.9.4 for Windows, and iCloud for Windows 7.11. Network administrators should implement web filtering solutions and browser security controls to prevent access to known malicious domains until the patches are deployed. Additionally, security teams should conduct vulnerability assessments to identify any potential exploitation attempts and implement monitoring for unusual network traffic patterns. The fix addresses the underlying memory handling issues through improved bounds checking and memory validation mechanisms, which aligns with defensive programming practices recommended in the ATT&CK framework for mitigating memory corruption attacks. Organizations should also consider implementing multi-layered security approaches including endpoint protection, network segmentation, and regular security awareness training to reduce the risk of successful exploitation through social engineering or other attack vectors that may complement this memory corruption vulnerability.