# CVE-2019-8556: Use after free in Safari

> Processing maliciously crafted web content in Safari or related Apple software may lead to arbitrary code execution via a use-after-free vulnerability.

- **Severity:** High 8.8 (`CVSS:3.1/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:** No
- **Published:** 18 Dec 2019
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pgv5-pw9f-4x5j

## What is CVE-2019-8556?

CVE-2019-8556 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Apple Icloud, published on 18 Dec 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 use after free issue was addressed with improved memory management. This issue is fixed in iOS 12.2, tvOS 12.2, Safari 12.1, iTunes 12.9.4 for Windows, iCloud for Windows 7.11. Processing maliciously crafted web content may lead to arbitrary code execution.

Weakness: CWE-416 (Use After Free)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2019-8556?

It affects 5 products.


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

## How do I fix CVE-2019-8556?

No fix has been published for CVE-2019-8556 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2019-8556 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-8556 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## 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-2019-8556 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2019-8556 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Apple Icloud, published on 18 Dec 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: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2019-8556 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2019-8556/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8556/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2019-8556
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-8556
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2019-8556

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8556/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.