# CVE-2018-4438: Memory corruption in iOS, tvOS, watchOS, Safari, iTunes for Windows, iCloud for Windows

> A logic issue causing memory corruption allows attackers to execute arbitrary code on Apple devices and related software.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 3 Apr 2019
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2018-4438, GHSA-6mmf-48v9-cph4, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-4438

## What is CVE-2018-4438?

CVE-2018-4438 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Icloud, published on 3 Apr 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A logic issue existed resulting in memory corruption. This was addressed with improved state management. This issue affected versions prior to iOS 12.1.1, tvOS 12.1.1, watchOS 5.1.2, Safari 12.0.2, iTunes 12.9.2 for Windows, iCloud for Windows 7.9.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-4438?

It affects 6 products.


Products: Apple Icloud, Apple Iphone Os, Apple Itunes, Apple Safari, Apple Tvos, Apple Watchos.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-4438?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2018-4438 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-4438 exists.

Public exploit code:

- WebKit JIT - Int32/Double Arrays can have Proxy Objects in the Prototype Chains (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Icloud

- [CVE-2019-8506](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8506/): Apple Multiple Products Type Confusion (high 8.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2020-27932](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-27932/): Apple Multiple Products Type Confusion (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-8746](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8746/): Memory corruption in iOS (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-8749](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8749/): Memory corruption in iOS (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2019-8756](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8756/): Memory corruption in iOS (critical 9.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-4438 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-4438 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Apple Icloud, published on 3 Apr 2019. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2018-4438 exists.

Affected product: Apple Icloud. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4438/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4438/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-4438
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-4438
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-4438

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-4438/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.