CVE-2019-8608 in iTunes
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple memory corruption issues were addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 12.3, macOS Mojave 10.14.5, tvOS 12.3, Safari 12.1.1, iTunes for Windows 12.9.5, iCloud for Windows 7.12. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/26/2023
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8608 represents a critical memory corruption issue affecting multiple Apple operating systems and applications. This flaw resides in the core memory management mechanisms of iOS 12.2, macOS Mojave 10.14.4, and tvOS 12.2, as well as Safari 12.1 and iTunes for Windows 12.9.4. The vulnerability stems from inadequate memory handling practices that fail to properly validate and sanitize memory operations during web content processing. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting malicious web content that, when processed by affected applications, triggers memory corruption conditions leading to potential arbitrary code execution. The memory corruption occurs at the intersection of web rendering and memory allocation routines, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate memory structures and execute unauthorized code with the privileges of the affected application. This vulnerability directly impacts the memory safety mechanisms that protect against buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, and other memory-related exploitation techniques. The issue manifests when browsers and web processing applications handle specially crafted HTML, JavaScript, or multimedia content that contains malformed memory references or corrupted data structures. The flaw enables attackers to bypass memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and other exploit mitigations that are typically employed to prevent memory corruption attacks. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-122, which deals with buffer overflow conditions, and CWE-125, which addresses out-of-bounds read errors, both of which are fundamental memory safety issues that can lead to arbitrary code execution. From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents a significant risk to end-users who browse the internet regularly, as the malicious content can be delivered through compromised websites, email attachments, or malicious advertisements. The attack surface is particularly broad given that Safari and other web-based applications are frequently used for web browsing activities, making this vulnerability highly exploitable in real-world scenarios. Security researchers have classified this as a remote code execution vulnerability that can be leveraged through web-based attacks, potentially allowing attackers to gain full control of affected systems. The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007, which involves the use of scripting languages for code execution, and T1068, which covers the exploitation of remote services. The memory corruption issues specifically relate to improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes, where freed memory blocks are not properly sanitized or where memory pointers are not adequately validated before use. The vulnerability affects not only individual user devices but also enterprise environments where these applications are commonly deployed. Organizations should consider this vulnerability as a high-priority threat due to its potential for widespread exploitation and the relative ease with which attackers can craft malicious content to exploit it. The fix implemented in iOS 12.3, macOS Mojave 10.14.5, tvOS 12.3, Safari 12.1.1, iTunes for Windows 12.9.5, and iCloud for Windows 7.12 addresses the root cause by implementing improved memory handling protocols. These updates include enhanced bounds checking, stricter memory allocation validation, and improved garbage collection mechanisms that prevent the memory corruption conditions that previously enabled arbitrary code execution. The patch also incorporates additional input validation measures that ensure web content is properly sanitized before memory operations are performed, reducing the attack surface for memory-related exploits. Organizations should prioritize immediate deployment of these security updates across all affected systems to mitigate the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of memory safety in modern web browsers and applications, as memory corruption issues continue to represent one of the most prevalent attack vectors in cybersecurity. Proper memory management and validation practices are essential for preventing attackers from leveraging these fundamental flaws to gain unauthorized access to systems and execute malicious code. The remediation efforts should include not only patching the affected applications but also implementing additional security controls such as web application firewalls, content filtering, and user education to reduce the risk of exposure to malicious web content.