CVE-2009-2795 in iPhone OS
Summary
by MITRE
Heap-based buffer overflow in the Recovery Mode component in Apple iPhone OS before 3.1, and iPhone OS before 3.1.1 for iPod touch, allows local users to bypass the passcode requirement and access arbitrary data via vectors related to "command parsing."
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/15/2017
The vulnerability described in CVE-2009-2795 represents a critical heap-based buffer overflow affecting Apple's iPhone OS versions prior to 3.1 and iPod touch versions prior to 3.1.1. This flaw exists within the Recovery Mode component of the operating system, which is designed to handle device recovery operations when the normal boot process fails or when users attempt to restore their devices. The vulnerability specifically targets the command parsing functionality within this recovery environment, creating a security gap that could be exploited by local attackers to circumvent the device's passcode protection mechanisms. The heap-based nature of the buffer overflow indicates that the vulnerability occurs when the system attempts to allocate memory on the heap for command processing operations, where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to write beyond allocated memory boundaries.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves manipulating input data during command parsing within the Recovery Mode environment to trigger the buffer overflow condition. When the system processes malformed or excessively long command inputs, the insufficient input validation causes memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code. This memory corruption potentially allows an attacker to gain unauthorized access to the device's data storage and bypass the passcode protection that normally secures user information. The vulnerability's impact extends beyond simple data access as it fundamentally compromises the device's security model by enabling unauthorized users to bypass authentication mechanisms that are critical for protecting personal data, applications, and system configurations.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability creates significant security implications for users of affected iPhone OS versions, as it allows local attackers with physical access to devices to bypass the passcode protection and gain access to sensitive data stored on the device. The Recovery Mode environment typically operates with elevated privileges and access to the device's core storage systems, making this vulnerability particularly dangerous as it could expose personal information, application data, communication logs, and other sensitive user content. The local nature of the attack means that physical access to the device is required, but this limitation does not mitigate the severity since many users may leave their devices unattended in public places or may not be aware of the vulnerability's existence. The exploitability of this vulnerability also means that it could be used in targeted attacks against specific users or in broader exploitation campaigns targeting devices running vulnerable firmware versions.
The mitigation strategies for this vulnerability primarily involve updating to Apple's patched versions of iPhone OS 3.1 and iPod touch 3.1.1, which contain fixes for the command parsing logic and improved bounds checking mechanisms. System administrators and users should prioritize applying these security updates immediately to protect against exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should implement device management policies that ensure all iOS devices are running current firmware versions and consider deploying mobile device management solutions that can automatically enforce security updates. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121, heap-based buffer overflow conditions, and could be categorized under ATT&CK technique T1211 for exploitation of system vulnerabilities to bypass security controls, representing a critical weakness in the device's authentication and data protection mechanisms that requires immediate remediation through official software updates.