CVE-2019-8728 in iTunes
Summary
by MITRE • 10/28/2020
Multiple memory corruption issues were addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 13, iCloud for Windows 7.14, iCloud for Windows 10.7, Safari 13, tvOS 13, watchOS 6, iTunes 12.10.1 for Windows. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 11/28/2020
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8728 represents a critical memory corruption flaw that affects multiple Apple operating systems and applications. This issue stems from inadequate memory handling mechanisms that fail to properly validate or sanitize input data during processing. The vulnerability specifically manifests when applications encounter maliciously crafted web content that triggers improper memory management operations. According to industry standards, this flaw aligns with CWE-122, which describes insufficient memory protection mechanisms, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write operations that can lead to memory corruption. The vulnerability's classification under these categories reflects the fundamental weakness in how memory allocation and deallocation processes are implemented within Apple's software ecosystem.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability allows attackers to craft specially designed web content that, when processed by affected applications, causes memory corruption that can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution. This exploitation occurs through memory management flaws that enable attackers to overwrite critical memory locations or manipulate heap structures in ways that allow code injection. The affected applications include iOS 12 and earlier versions, tvOS 12 and earlier, watchOS 5 and earlier, and various iTunes and Safari versions. The memory corruption typically manifests through buffer overflows, use-after-free conditions, or other memory management errors that occur when processing web content. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it leverages web-based content, making it accessible through standard web browsing activities, email attachments, or malicious websites that can be inadvertently visited by users.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple attack surfaces within Apple's ecosystem, potentially enabling sophisticated attacks that could compromise user devices and access sensitive data. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application, potentially leading to full system compromise. The vulnerability's presence in widely used applications like Safari, iTunes, and mobile operating systems creates an extensive attack surface that could be exploited by threat actors targeting enterprise users, individual consumers, or specific high-value targets. Organizations should consider this vulnerability in their risk assessments, particularly those using older versions of Apple software that remain unpatched. The impact is further amplified by the fact that many users may not immediately update their systems, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation. According to MITRE ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability would map to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and potentially T1190 for exploit public-facing application, as attackers could leverage the web-based nature of the flaw to deliver malicious payloads through web interfaces.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2019-8728 should prioritize immediate patching of all affected systems to the latest software versions provided by Apple. Organizations should implement comprehensive software update policies that ensure all Apple devices receive security patches promptly, particularly those running older versions of iOS, macOS, tvOS, and watchOS. Network administrators should consider implementing web filtering solutions and browser security controls that can help prevent access to known malicious websites that may contain exploits for this vulnerability. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of visiting untrusted websites and opening suspicious email attachments that could contain malicious web content. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual network traffic patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts, particularly those involving web-based protocols. The implementation of sandboxing controls and application whitelisting can further reduce the potential impact of successful exploitation attempts. Regular security assessments should verify that all endpoints have been properly updated and that no vulnerable versions remain in the organization's environment. Given the nature of memory corruption vulnerabilities, organizations should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, address space layout randomization, and data execution prevention to make exploitation more difficult even if patches are not immediately applied.