CVE-2019-8819 in iTunes
Summary
by MITRE
Multiple memory corruption issues were addressed with improved memory handling. This issue is fixed in iOS 13.2 and iPadOS 13.2, tvOS 13.2, Safari 13.0.3, iTunes for Windows 12.10.2, iCloud for Windows 11.0, iCloud for Windows 7.15. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/01/2024
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2019-8819 represents a critical memory corruption issue affecting multiple Apple operating systems and applications. This flaw manifests through improper memory handling mechanisms that create exploitable conditions within the affected software ecosystems. The vulnerability was specifically addressed in Apple's security updates for iOS 13.2, iPadOS 13.2, tvOS 13.2, Safari 13.0.3, iTunes for Windows 12.10.2, iCloud for Windows 11.0, and iCloud for Windows 7.15. The memory corruption issues arise from inadequate bounds checking and memory allocation practices that allow attackers to manipulate memory structures in ways that were not properly anticipated by the software architects.
The technical nature of this vulnerability aligns with common weaknesses enumerated in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog under CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions, and CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write conditions. These memory safety issues typically occur when software fails to properly validate memory access operations, particularly when processing untrusted input data such as web content. The flaw enables attackers to craft malicious web pages or content that, when rendered by the affected applications, triggers memory corruption that can be leveraged for privilege escalation or arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability specifically impacts web content processing within Safari and related browser components, making it particularly dangerous in phishing attacks or drive-by download scenarios.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations and individual users who rely on Apple's ecosystem for web browsing and content consumption. The potential for arbitrary code execution means that successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, or the installation of persistent malware. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability through various attack vectors including malicious websites, compromised web applications, or spear-phishing campaigns targeting Apple device users. The impact extends beyond individual users to enterprise environments where Apple devices are prevalent, particularly in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government where sensitive data protection is paramount. The vulnerability's presence in both mobile and desktop operating systems creates a broad attack surface that requires comprehensive remediation strategies.
Security professionals should prioritize immediate deployment of the applicable security patches for all affected versions of Apple's software products. The remediation process should include thorough testing of updated versions to ensure compatibility with existing enterprise systems and applications. Organizations should implement network monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability and consider deploying web filtering solutions to block access to known malicious domains. The vulnerability's classification under the MITRE ATT&CK framework places it within the execution and privilege escalation domains, specifically mapping to techniques such as web-based exploitation and malicious file execution. Regular security assessments should verify that all endpoints are properly updated and that appropriate security controls are in place to mitigate the risk of exploitation. Continuous monitoring and threat intelligence feeds should be utilized to stay informed about any emerging exploitation techniques or related vulnerabilities that may compound the risk associated with this memory corruption flaw.