CVE-2018-4233
published 2018-06-08CVE-2018-4233: An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.4 is affected. Safari before 11.1.1 is affected. iCloud before 7.5 on Windows is affected…
PriorityP186high8.8CVSS 3.1
AVNACLPRNUIRSUCHIHAH
ITWEXPLOITVulnCheck KEV
Exploited in the wild
EPSS
53.77%
98.9th percentile
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.4 is affected. Safari before 11.1.1 is affected. iCloud before 7.5 on Windows is affected. iTunes before 12.7.5 on Windows is affected. tvOS before 11.4 is affected. watchOS before 4.3.1 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted web site.
Affected
16 ranges
| Vendor | Product | Version range | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| apple | icloud | < 7.5 | 7.5 |
| apple | icloud_for_windows | — | — |
| apple | ios | — | — |
| apple | iphone_os | < 11.4 | 11.4 |
| apple | itunes | < 12.7.5 | 12.7.5 |
| apple | itunes_12.7.5_for_windows | — | — |
| apple | safari | < 11.1.1 | 11.1.1 |
| apple | safari | — | — |
| apple | tvos | < 11.4 | 11.4 |
| apple | tvos | — | — |
| apple | watchos | < 4.3.1 | 4.3.1 |
| apple | watchos | — | — |
| canonical | ubuntu_linux | — | — |
| canonical | ubuntu_linux | — | — |
| canonical | ubuntu_linux | — | — |
| debian | webkit2gtk | < webkit2gtk 2.20.3-1 (bookworm) | webkit2gtk 2.20.3-1 (bookworm) |
Detection & IOCsextracted from sources · hover to see the quote
- →The exploit targets macOS 10.13.3 and earlier via a crafted web page delivered through Safari; user-agent strings containing 'Intel Mac OS X' versions below 10.13.4 should be treated as vulnerable and monitored for exploitation attempts. ↗
- →A MachO binary masquerading as a PNG file (magic bytes mismatch) named '20004312341.png' is an initial-stage delivery artifact; detect MachO files with .png extensions on macOS endpoints. ↗
- →Presence of the process or binary 'macircloader' on a macOS host is a strong indicator of LightSpy Core deployment following CVE-2018-4233 exploitation. ↗
- →The exploit uses a Javascript Proxy / CreateThis type confusion in WebKit's DFG JIT; network-level detection should look for delivery of exploit JS that manipulates Proxy objects to corrupt JIT-compiled structures. ↗
- →The Metasploit module for CVE-2018-4233 uses the default payload 'python/meterpreter/reverse_tcp'; monitor for outbound reverse TCP meterpreter connections from Safari child processes on macOS. ↗
- →The JIT region is overwritten with shellcode as part of exploitation; memory-protection or exploit-guard telemetry showing executable-region writes within the Safari/JavaScriptCore process is a key detection signal. ↗
- →Post-exploitation persistence is established by configuring the 'update' binary to run at startup via a plist; monitor for new LaunchAgent/LaunchDaemon plist entries referencing an 'update' binary dropped alongside 'update.plist'. ↗
- →The exploit checks the macOS version from the User-Agent header; web server logs showing version extraction regex against 'Intel Mac OS X' followed by exploit page delivery are indicative of active exploitation. ↗
- ·The Metasploit module only supports macOS 10.12.6, 10.13, and 10.13.3 via hardcoded offset tables; versions 10.13.4 and above are explicitly flagged as not vulnerable by the module. ↗
- ·The iOS variant of the exploit (webkit_createthis.rb) chains CVE-2018-4233 with CVE-2017-13861 (async_wake) for kernel TFP0 and trust-cache manipulation, making it a distinct multi-stage chain from the macOS variant. ↗
- ·LightSpy macOS activity observed since at least January 2024 appears limited to testing environments; confirmed victim count in production is low per ThreatFabric's panel access. ↗
CVSS provenance
nvdv3.18.8HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvdv3.08.8HIGHCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
nvdv2.06.8MEDIUMAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
osv8.8HIGH
vulncheck8.8HIGH
vendor_debian8.8LOW
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Ubuntu
WebKitGTK+ vulnerabilities
vendor_ubuntu·2018-06-18
CVE-2018-12293 WebKitGTK+ vulnerabilities
Title: WebKitGTK+ vulnerabilities
Summary: Several security issues were fixed in WebKitGTK+.
A large number of security issues were discovered in the WebKitGTK+ Web and
JavaScript engines. If a user were tricked into viewing a malicious
website, a remote attacker could exploit a variety of issues related to web
browser security, including cross-site scripting attacks, denial of service
attacks, and arbitrary code execution.
Instructions: This update uses a new upstream release, which includes additional bug
fixes. After a standard system update you need to restart any applications
that use WebKitGTK+, such as Epiphany, to make all the necessary changes.
Apple
CVE-2018-4233: iCloud for Windows 7.5
vendor_apple·2018-06-01·CVSS 8.8
CVE-2018-4233 [HIGH] CVE-2018-4233: iCloud for Windows 7.5
Apple Security Update: About the security content of iCloud for Windows 7.5
Product: iCloud for Windows
Version: 7.5
CVE: CVE-2018-4233
Component: WebKit
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: Multiple memory corruption issues were addressed with improved memory handling.
Apple
CVE-2018-4233: Safari 11.1.1
vendor_apple·2018-06-01·CVSS 8.8
CVE-2018-4233 [HIGH] CVE-2018-4233: Safari 11.1.1
Apple Security Update: About the security content of Safari 11.1.1
Product: Safari
Version: 11.1.1
CVE: CVE-2018-4233
Component: WebKit
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: Multiple memory corruption issues were addressed with improved memory handling.
Apple
CVE-2018-4233: iOS 11.4
vendor_apple·2018-05-29·CVSS 8.8
CVE-2018-4233 [HIGH] CVE-2018-4233: iOS 11.4
Apple Security Update: About the security content of iOS 11.4
Product: iOS
Version: 11.4
CVE: CVE-2018-4233
Component: WebKit
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: Multiple memory corruption issues were addressed with improved memory handling.
Apple
CVE-2018-4233: iTunes 12.7.5 for Windows
vendor_apple·2018-05-29·CVSS 8.8
CVE-2018-4233 [HIGH] CVE-2018-4233: iTunes 12.7.5 for Windows
Apple Security Update: About the security content of iTunes 12.7.5 for Windows
Product: iTunes 12.7.5 for Windows
CVE: CVE-2018-4233
Component: WebKit
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: Multiple memory corruption issues were addressed with improved memory handling.
Apple
CVE-2018-4233: tvOS 11.4
vendor_apple·2018-05-29·CVSS 8.8
CVE-2018-4233 [HIGH] CVE-2018-4233: tvOS 11.4
Apple Security Update: About the security content of tvOS 11.4
Product: tvOS
Version: 11.4
CVE: CVE-2018-4233
Component: WebKit
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: Multiple memory corruption issues were addressed with improved memory handling.
Apple
CVE-2018-4233: watchOS 4.3.1
vendor_apple·2018-05-29·CVSS 8.8
CVE-2018-4233 [HIGH] CVE-2018-4233: watchOS 4.3.1
Apple Security Update: About the security content of watchOS 4.3.1
Product: watchOS
Version: 4.3.1
CVE: CVE-2018-4233
Component: WebKit
Impact: Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution
Description: Multiple memory corruption issues were addressed with improved memory handling.
Debian
CVE-2018-4233: webkit2gtk - An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.4 is affected. ...
vendor_debian·2018·CVSS 8.8
CVE-2018-4233 [HIGH] CVE-2018-4233: webkit2gtk - An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.4 is affected. ...
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.4 is affected. Safari before 11.1.1 is affected. iCloud before 7.5 on Windows is affected. iTunes before 12.7.5 on Windows is affected. tvOS before 11.4 is affected. watchOS before 4.3.1 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted web site.
Scope: local
bookworm: resolved (fixed in 2.20.3-1)
bullseye: resolved (fixed in 2.20.3-1)
forky: resolved (fixed in 2.20.3-1)
sid: resolved (fixed in 2.20.3-1)
trixie: resolved (fixed in 2.20.3-1)
GHSA
GHSA-h77p-7p3g-477f: An issue was discovered in certain Apple products
ghsa_unreviewed·2022-05-14
CVE-2018-4233 [HIGH] CWE-119 GHSA-h77p-7p3g-477f: An issue was discovered in certain Apple products
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.4 is affected. Safari before 11.1.1 is affected. iCloud before 7.5 on Windows is affected. iTunes before 12.7.5 on Windows is affected. tvOS before 11.4 is affected. watchOS before 4.3.1 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted web site.
OSV
CVE-2018-4233: An issue was discovered in certain Apple products
osv·2018-06-08·CVSS 8.8
CVE-2018-4233 [HIGH] CVE-2018-4233: An issue was discovered in certain Apple products
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.4 is affected. Safari before 11.1.1 is affected. iCloud before 7.5 on Windows is affected. iTunes before 12.7.5 on Windows is affected. tvOS before 11.4 is affected. watchOS before 4.3.1 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted web site.
VulnCheck
Apple safari Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
vulncheck·2018·CVSS 8.8
CVE-2018-4233 [HIGH] Apple safari Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
Apple safari Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
An issue was discovered in certain Apple products. iOS before 11.4 is affected. Safari before 11.1.1 is affected. iCloud before 7.5 on Windows is affected. iTunes before 12.7.5 on Windows is affected. tvOS before 11.4 is affected. watchOS before 4.3.1 is affected. The issue involves the "WebKit" component. It allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption and application crash) via a crafted web site.
Affected: Apple safari
Required Action: Apply remediations or mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if remediation or mitigations are unavailable.
Exploitation References: https://www.threatfabric.com/blogs/lightspy-implant
No detection rules found.
Exploit-DB
Safari - Proxy Object Type Confusion (Metasploit)
exploitdb·2018-12-14·CVSS 8.8
CVE-2018-4404 [HIGH] Safari - Proxy Object Type Confusion (Metasploit)
Safari - Proxy Object Type Confusion (Metasploit)
---
##
# This module requires Metasploit: https://metasploit.com/download
# Current source: https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework
##
class MetasploitModule 'Safari Proxy Object Type Confusion',
'Description' => %q{
This module exploits a type confusion bug in the Javascript Proxy object in
WebKit. The DFG JIT does not take into account that, through the use of a Proxy,
it is possible to run arbitrary JS code during the execution of a CreateThis
operation. This makes it possible to change the structure of e.g. an argument
without causing a bailout, leading to a type confusion (CVE-2018-4233).
The JIT region is then replaced with shellcode which loads the second stage.
The second stage exploits a logic error in libxpc, which uses
Metasploit
Safari Proxy Object Type Confusion
metasploit·CVSS 8.8
CVE-2018-4233 [HIGH] Safari Proxy Object Type Confusion
Safari Proxy Object Type Confusion
This module exploits a type confusion bug in the Javascript Proxy object in WebKit. The DFG JIT does not take into account that, through the use of a Proxy, it is possible to run arbitrary JS code during the execution of a CreateThis operation. This makes it possible to change the structure of e.g. an argument without causing a bailout, leading to a type confusion (CVE-2018-4233). The JIT region is then replaced with shellcode which loads the second stage. The second stage exploits a logic error in libxpc, which uses command execution via the launchd's "spawn_via_launchd" API (CVE-2018-4404).
Metasploit
Safari Webkit Proxy Object Type Confusion
metasploit·CVSS 7.8
CVE-2018-4233 [HIGH] Safari Webkit Proxy Object Type Confusion
Safari Webkit Proxy Object Type Confusion
This module exploits a type confusion bug in the Javascript Proxy object in WebKit. The DFG JIT does not take into account that, through the use of a Proxy, it is possible to run arbitrary JS code during the execution of a CreateThis operation. This makes it possible to change the structure of e.g. an argument without causing a bailout, leading to a type confusion (CVE-2018-4233). The type confusion leads to the ability to allocate fake Javascript objects, as well as the ability to find the address in memory of a Javascript object. This allows us to construct a fake JSCell object that can be used to read and write arbitrary memory from Javascript. The module then uses a ROP chain to write the first stage shellcode into executable memory within the
Bleepingcomputer
macOS version of elusive 'LightSpy' spyware tool discovered
blogs_bleepingcomputer·2024-05-30·CVSS 8.8
[HIGH] macOS version of elusive 'LightSpy' spyware tool discovered
## macOS version of elusive 'LightSpy' spyware tool discovered
## Bill Toulas
According to a new report by ThreatFabric , a macOS implant has been discovered to be active in the wild since at least January 2024. However, its operation appears to be currently limited to testing environments, and a handful of infected machines are used by cybersecurity researchers.
The researchers infiltrated LightSpy's control panel by exploiting a misconfiguration that allowed unauthorized access to the authenticated interface, gaining insights into the functionality, infrastructure, and infected devices.
## Using exploits to compromise macOS
The threat actors use WebKit flaws CVE-2018-4233 and CVE-2018-4404 to trigger code execution within Safari, targeting macOS 10.13.3 and earlier.
Initially, a 64
arXiv
SOK: On the Analysis of Web Browser Security
arxiv_fulltext·2021-12-31
SOK: On the Analysis of Web Browser Security
: On the Analysis of Web Browser Security
fancyplain
Rev.
\ of LastPage
Jungwon Lim*,\;
Yonghwi Jin*^ ,\;
Mansour Alharthi,\;
Xiaokuan Zhang,\;
Jinho Jung,\;
Rajat Gupta,\;
Kuilin Li,\;
Daehee Jang^ ,\;
Taesoo Kim\;
Georgia Institute of Technology ^ Theori Inc. ^ Sungshin Women's University
## Abstract
Web browsers are integral parts of everyone's daily life.
They are commonly used
for security-critical and privacy sensitive tasks,
like banking transactions and checking medical records.
Unfortunately,
modern web browsers are
too complex to be bug free
( , 25 million lines of code in Chrome),
and their role as an interface to the cyberspace
makes them an attractive target for attacks.
Accordingly,
web browsers naturally
become an arena for demonstrating
advanced exploitation techni
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153148/Safari-Webkit-Proxy-Object-Type-Confusion.htmlhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041029https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201808-04https://support.apple.com/HT208848https://support.apple.com/HT208850https://support.apple.com/HT208851https://support.apple.com/HT208852https://support.apple.com/HT208853https://support.apple.com/HT208854https://usn.ubuntu.com/3687-1/https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45998/http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/153148/Safari-Webkit-Proxy-Object-Type-Confusion.htmlhttp://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041029https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201808-04https://support.apple.com/HT208848https://support.apple.com/HT208850https://support.apple.com/HT208851https://support.apple.com/HT208852https://support.apple.com/HT208853https://support.apple.com/HT208854https://usn.ubuntu.com/3687-1/https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/45998/
2018-06-08
Published
Exploited in the wild